With Manny Machado heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the real possibility that he can return them to the World Series, it’s time to look at the five players the Orioles are getting back in the deal.
The prize of the haul is expected to be Yusniel Diaz, a 21-year-old Cuban outfielder. Diaz, who played in Sunday’s Futures Game, is batting .314 with six home runs and 30 RBIs for Double-A Tulsa.
Diaz has good plate discipline. He’s walked 41 times with 39 strikeouts, and his on-base percentage is .428. Diaz has played all three outfield positions this year, but most of his time has been spent in center and right.
One longtime talent evaluator said Diaz is a “plus athlete.”
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He does have speed. This year, Diaz has stolen eight bases, but been caught eight times, too.
Breyvick Valera, a 26-year-old switch-hitter, is the only one of the five who has major league experience. Valera played five games for St. Louis last season and 20 with the Dodgers this year. He hit .172 with four RBIs.
Valera can play second and third and also has experience at all three outfield positions in the minors.
“Fair prospect, nothing special,” one longtime talent evaluator said. Another said, “bat control, versatile infielder minus power.”
Valera is being optioned to Norfolk
Right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer was Los Angeles’ 14th-round selection in the 2016 draft. In one game for Tulsa, Kremer pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed three hits. At Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, the 23-year-old was 5-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 games.
Rylan Bannon was drafted in the eighth round by Los Angeles in 2017. The 22-year-old plays second and third base. Bannon is batting .296 in 89 games at Rancho Cucamonga with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. He’s struck out 103 times and walked 59 and has an OBP of .402.
Zach Pop is a 21-year-old Canadian reliever drafted in the seventh round in 2017. Pop is a combined 1-2 with a 1.04 ERA in 30 games at Low-A Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga.
Diaz, Bannon, Kremer and Pop have been assigned to Bowie.
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