BALTIMORE—It was a day of two games and one big news story for the Baltimore Orioles.
Starting pitcher Andrew Cashner, who was 9-3 on a team with a 24-68 record, was traded to the Boston Red Sox for 17-year-old international prospects Elio Prado, an outfielder, and Noelberth Romero, an infielder. It was the latest move by general manager Mike Elias to rebuild with young talent and came 18 days before the July 31 trade deadline.
The trade was announced Saturday between a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay keyed by a Stevie Wilkerson home run and a strong bullpen effort, and a 12-4 loss at night that featured six Tampa Bay home runs in a game started by All-Star John Means.
“Good for Andrew Cashner,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “I’m happy for him. He was phenomenal for me, for the coaching staff, for the players. He was the ultimate team guy, ultra pro, unbelievably competitive and was a huge help not only for me but everybody else.
“I wish him the best, except when we face him. Hopefully, he gets a chance to go to the postseason and wishing good things for him.”
Means, who didn’t pitch in the All-Star Game, hadn’t started since pitching seven strong innings at Tampa Bay on July 3. He had grown close to Cashner.
“It was pretty crazy,” Means said. “He’s kind of our fearless leader, so to have a guy like that who is kind of your voice is kind of tough.”
Means allowed a career-high six runs and three of the six home runs. His ERA rose from 2.50 to 2.94. Means hadn’t allowed more than four runs in any of his starts this season.
“I thought Means threw the ball pretty good,” Hyde said. “I thought they cheated a couple fastballs in … the ball was carrying good and they kind of hit it in that left-center field area where it’s pretty short.
“I think his breaking ball was real good tonight, but had a real good changeup early in the game. It was a 3-2 game going into the sixth … It got away from us after that.”
Means said the Cashner trade wouldn’t alter his mindset.
“There’s no pressure,” Means said. “The goal this year is a lot of guys are getting a lot of time, getting a lot of work in without a lot of pressure, obviously, to perform and get wins. Obviously, we’re here rebuilding.”
Means will have new teammates in the rotation without Cashner and with Dylan Bundy on the 10-day injured list because of tendinitis in his right knee.
If asked for his advice, it would be simple.
“Just kind of come up here and don’t act like you have to do anything more than you were doing,” Means said. “A lot of guys come up here, including myself last year … You come up here, you feel like you have to change something. It’s the big leagues, so you’re facing the best hitters in the world day in and day out. But honestly it’s the same game … you come in with your best stuff.”
Hyde unsure about Sunday: The likely Sunday starter is Tom Eshelman, who was scheduled to start for Triple-A Norfolk.
Eshelman made his major league debut on July 1 against the Rays when he allowed two runs on six hits in five innings.
For Hyde, there’s a lot more improvisation.
“We’re realistic about where we are and about possible movement … we’re a million miles away from being where we’re going to be here sometime soon,” Hyde said.
“These are things that are going to happen. We need people to step up. Like I’ve said a million times, it’s the land of opportunity. We’re giving guys starts. If you can’t savor these moments while you’re in the clubhouse you’re going to kick yourself later in life because this doesn’t come around all the time, so we’re going to make due with what we have.”
Scott debuts: Tayler Scott became the 48th player and 33rd pitcher for the Orioles when he allowed three runs in the ninth. Scott, who was acquired on waivers from Seattle on June 25, was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.
Scott is the first major leaguer from South Africa. He arrived in the United States at 17.
“It’s very small, very tiny,” Scott said of baseball in South Africa. “It’s kind of just a recreational thing — guys play for fun. I played a little bit back there, but once I came over, I got a little bit more serious.”
Scott didn’t follow the game much in South Africa.
“I saw people playing on a field one day. It wasn’t really on TV at all back there except at three o’clock in the morning. There wasn’t much exposure for baseball down there.”
Big slumps: Dwight Smith Jr. was hitless in five at-bats. He’s now 0-for-26. Trey Mancini, who’s hitless in his last 20 at-bats, was given the evening off.
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I was there last night to see Means lousy start. Was hoping to see a quality start, but that was not to be last night.
As for the trade? Two 17 year olds, you can't get much a much younger prospect. I'll put a reminder on my calendar in 2023 for these 2 names. I have a feeling I'm going to say "who are those 2 guys".
Only a matter of time on Cashner. I'm hoping Means can put up the numbers he did in the 1st half. I still; think Mancini should have been the all-star pick on Means
I’m convinced that Elias is working on the theory, with his continued trolling of the waiver wire, that if you throw enough pies against the wall one will stick... just saying...
For this year, I don’t think he has much choice.
Looks like Elias does not want any other players other than his on the Orioles. He has really disappointed me and many others. I love my Os put Davis on third Manchineel on first Wilkerson on second Martin at short Sisco catcher let’s go for the rest of the year
J Guy: I don't think it is strange that Elias only wants his guys. Afterall, he has seen Duquette's guys and probably isn't impressed with either their play or their durability. I do agree with your plan to put C.D. at third (he played it several years ago), Martin at short and Mancini at first. I would rather put Wilkerson in center (that would mean to DFA) and Villar at second (as long as he is here). The outfield would be DJ Stewart in left, Wilkerson in center and Santandeere in right. I don't have any problem with the platoon at catcher with Severino and Sisco.
I thought the plan was to get Davis OUT of the lineup not put him somewhere(3rd) he rarely plays.
Yeah, I don’t see Davis playing 3rd helping us in any way, shape, or form. If he’s on the team, he should only play against righties who he has had a great amount of success.
As good as Cashner has been he was very due to crash to earth soon. He definitely is not as good as he has been these last few weeks. For that reason I think Elias decided to strike now instead of 7/31. "Get em while he's hot" Boston. Down side--would have been nice to get a couple 20-21 year olds to speed up the rebuild instead of 17. As for Means--geez not a good time to lay an egg John. Our morale was a little down(after trade)and we kind of banked on you to lift us up.
Glad Elias chose to acquire several potentially valuable pieces for the rebuild instead of failed or fringe prospects who aren’t really going to help in the long run. Nice to finally have a GM with long-term vision.
It is certainly convenient for Elias to tell O's fans it will be a loooong rebuild. No pressure on him for 4 or 5 or more years. I wish I had a no pressure job like that where nobody expects results for that long. Dan was expected to keep the O's in contention every year. That is a much tougher job. And I was not a big fan of a lot of Dan's moves.
Dan certainly had a difficult job and apparently a different mandate from ownership. Still, we saw last year what resulted from his efforts to keep the team in contention every season — and the effects on the O’s farm system.
I suppose this is where an adapted version of the "In Ozzie we Trust" mantra so popular across Hanover St. comes into play. Elias appears to have jumped all over these two kids, whom noone outside of International scouting circles knew existed before about 430 yesterday. Cashner was the biggest chip the Warehouse had. Aggressively sending him out the door well before the deadline for a couple guys who probably haven't learned to shave? OK Mike. You better be every bit as good as they say you are...
I repeat trade him while he's hot because we all know the "real" Cashner.
I wouldn’t say the Orioles sent him out the door aggressively. Boston was apparently actively pursuing Cashner along with Philadelphia. Assuming Elias scouted Prado and Romero when he was in Houston, he should be familiar with their talent level. And they are paying half of Cashner’s salary so it’s not quite a salary dump. Remember, Cashner was only under contract for 2 more months ( yes I know he had an option but the Orioles weren’t picking it up) and we were 28-64 with him. They made what they thought was the best deal. Time will tell
We do know the real Cashner, all things being equal Is take him ANYTIME over corn Cobb, I don’t ever want to see him pitch for the O’s again, his presence with the younger pitchers will be like a cancer, not the positive Cashner was & would’ve been...go O’s...
Smith Jr. has come back to Earth. I've seen enough of Broxton. Austin Hays has been hitting .297 in his last 10 games. If he can button his shirt without pulling a muscle, it's time to give him a shot.
Great comment... LMAO
Like many others, I was a bit surprised in the return for Cashner. But I like the direction that Elias is taking, and I will continue to trust his knowledge and decision making.
A million miles from where we’ll be sometime soon, say what?