The non-waiver trade deadline is over and it appears the Orioles – at 50-54 and 5 ½ games behind the Kansas City Royals for the second Wild Card prior to tonight’s contest between the two – were, indeed, buyers.
Relievers Zach Britton and Brad Brach, and every other Oriole of note, stayed at Camden Yards on Monday afternoon.
The only July 31 trade the Orioles made was acquiring infielder Tim Beckham from the Tampa Bay Rays for 18-year-old right-hander Tobias Myers, a former sixth-round pick last year who was 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA at Short-A Aberdeen.
The Trade was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
Beckham, 27, was the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, but has never lived up to those expectations. This season, he hit .259 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 87 games while starting 69 at shortstop and 17 at second base. He has struck out 110 times in 345 plate appearances this year.
The trade gives the Orioles someone who can play both middle infield spots now, and is a candidate to be the club’s everyday shortstop next year, assuming pending free agent J.J. Hardy’s option is not picked up. Beckham could be under club control through the 2020 season.
The real story of the deadline, however, is that the Orioles weren’t sellers; on Friday they traded a minor league pitcher and seldom used outfielder Hyun Soo Kim for right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who will make his Orioles’ debut on Wednesday against the Royals.
So instead of dealing away a Britton or Brach, they added to what they hope can be a pennant push.
Yes, it seems like a stretch to add to this team – but Dan Duquette was true to his word. He’s not giving up on this season.
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I can't imagine the front office thinks we have anything but an high and way outside chance at the post season! Perhaps their lack of a sell was more a result of not being offered fair value for the guys who were up for sale? Let's not trade just to say we made a trade...
That was part of it I'm sure
I don't understand today's trade at all but glad we have a team with playoff aspirations (albeit scant) over the next couple of months. We didn't fold like the Rangers did by trading Darvish. Time will tell whether DD made the right choice.
Understandable sentiment.
Hmm... with 110 Ks in 345 plate appearances, Beckham will fit right in.
Amen!
I made sure I included that particular stat.
Very few prospects close to major league ready were dealt today. Suggests to me that the Birds weren't going to get value for Britton. I hoped there would be a deal, but I'm not upset if the return was going to be limited to some guy in A ball.
Like I said earlier, I understand that sentiment. Trading just to trade doesn't make sense.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Beckham has actually had a decent season (especially against the O's). And with Hardy on his way out, this gives us a potential fit at SS for next year, maybe beyond.
But the question is whether he's really going to be worth giving up a prospect that at least is putting up solid numbers in the low minors. Could we have not gotten a similarly talented player on the market next year?
Beyond that, it boggles the mind that they couldn't grab any prospects for Britton or Brach. This isn't necessarily a disaster as they can possibly do something in the offseason. But I don't know if it's just a matter of not getting a sufficient offer or if Mr. A. is just not sold on selling. This whole thing is just puzzling, I guess.
Probably a combo of all of the above