The “Let’s Make A Deal – Battery Edition” series has already presented you with starters and relievers who could be available for the Orioles to acquire prior to this year’s trade deadline.
In this edition, we will visit the possible position players who would fit, should GM Mike Elias pivot or a need arises. In the end, it’s about due diligence and being ready.
Let’s check out what pieces would fit if a trade were to come to fruition.
INF Tim Anderson – Chicago White Sox: 43-63, -11.0 (Central), -16.5 (WC)
.246 AVG, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 10 SB, .581 OPS
This is a unique situation for Tim Anderson and the White Sox. At the time, the White Sox seemed to be unloading veterans and washing away this season.
With Anderson, he is under control this season and has a club option for the 2024 season, so a team could essentially get a veteran who plays shortstop, second base and can DH from time to time.
Anderson has picked the right month to turn his season around, as he is slashing .292/.337/.365 with two doubles, a triple and a home run, along with eight RBIs and 13 runs scored in 23 games.
With the White Sox unloading veterans, they are in the market for power bats, outfielders and young pitching for both the rotation and bullpen.
PROPOSAL:
Orioles receive: INF Tim Anderson
White Sox receive: 2B/OF Connor Norby (O’s No. 6 / MLB No. 64), RHP Ryan Watson (O’s No. 22), LHP Bruce Zimmermann
OF Tommy Pham – New York Mets: 50-55, -18.0 (East), -6.5 (WC)
.268 AVG, 10 HR, 36 RBIs, 11 SB, .820 OPS
The Mets were built to compete and make a World Series run. What it looks like on paper doesn’t always transpire, and this is why you play the game.
The Mets have already unloaded future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer, and rumors are another future Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander is available as well. With the disappointing showing this season, other players could be on the move as well.
Tommy Pham is one of those players the Mets may trade, as he will be a free agent after the season ends. For a team like Baltimore, who is seeing its outfield depth tested, Pham could be a strong piece for a postseason run.
Pham has had a bipolar season at the plate, as his offensive production has cratered and climaxed by the month. Currently, he is slashing .218/.338/.345 in July through 18 games.
PROPOSAL:
Orioles receive: Tommy Pham
Mets receive: RHP Justin Armbruester (O’s No. 30), OF Kyle Stowers
OF Brent Rooker – Oakland Athletics: 30-76, -30.5 (West), -29.0 (WC)
.248 AVG, 17 HR, 47 RBIs, 2 SB, .817 OPS
If the well keeps bringing you talent, then you keep revisiting it. After acquiring left-hander Cole Irvin and then recently right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, the Athletics could offer up more talent that could help the Orioles.
Brent Rooker, who still has four years of team control left, has carved out a niche in the otherwise underwhelming Oakland season.
Basically, the lone power threat in a meddling lineup, Rooker has the ability to fetch a decent prospect package to help fill many holes in a roster with little money being spent on it. Rooker is currently slashing .283/.355/.528 in July, adding four home runs, eight RBIs and 15 hits in 16 games.
With the upcoming announcement that the team is leaving Oakland for Las Vegas, Rooker is the next big thing that could be headed out of Oakland and help aid in the rebuild of the soon to be Las Vegas Athletics.
PROPOSAL:
Orioles receive: OF Brent Rooker
Athletics receive: OF Braylin Tavera (O’s No. 23), RHP Justin Armbruester (O’s No. 30)
INF Paul DeJong – St. Louis Cardinals: 47-60, -11.0 (Central), -10.5 (WC)
.233 AVG, 13 HR, 32 RBIs, 4 SB, .709 OPS
Of course, many look at this and wonder why we would need a shortstop when we have Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and Jorge Mateo? The answer is veteran presence, which allows a move from Mateo and club options the next two years.
If the Orioles are not ready to define a second baseman, DeJong can also play there. He is a strong fielder who can also DH and bring a decent power bat to the table.
He would slot in as a rotational player, veteran presence and most likely would move on at the end of the year as any team acquiring DeJong would more than likely decline the club option.
For the Cardinals, a restructure seems imminent, and there are numerous positions and pitching holes they have. Unloading veterans with expiring contracts to load up on prospects is the best route for the Red Birds to take this season.
PROPOSAL:
Orioles receive: INF Paul DeJong
Cardinals receive: SS Jorge Mateo, C Maverick Handley
OF/3B Nick Senzel – Cincinnati Reds: 58-49, +0.5 (Central), –(WC)
.230 AVG, 8 HR, 36 RBIs, 5 SB, .685 OPS
This is a move that can be made by the Reds or left alone. On one hand, Nick Senzel is a former No. 2 overall pick who is just entering his prime years. On the other, he has struggled offensively as a full-time player.
With the youth movement happening in Cincinnati and them over achieving towards a postseason birth, the Reds might want to add by subtracting at the same time.
The Reds have numerous prospects chomping at the bit but also could use some help with some major league ready talent that is controllable in the outfield or pitching-wise.
PROPOSAL:
Orioles receive: Nick Senzel
Reds receive: OF Kyle Stowers, LHP Cionel Pérez
Once again, the thing to remember here is that this is only based on if GM Mike Elias decides to add a position player. These options are the best fits available in terms of how they would benefit the Orioles and fill needs for the other team.
The key to all this is as a GM, Elias is prone to playing cards close to his chest and leading with misdirection. We do not know what he is thinking, but the talent pool available in our system makes any trade scenario one the Orioles can jump into.
The Orioles are primed for a postseason run with what they have available, but they could always make a shrewd under-the-radar move or a blockbuster deal at any moment.
What do you think of these proposals? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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