The Baltimore Orioles made a minor move during the All-Star Week, acquiring right-handed pitcher Cam Sanders from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have transferred left-hander Keegan Akin to the 60-day injured list (UCL). Sanders was immediately optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
While the move is not likely to grab headlines, it represents another low-risk opportunity for Orioles president of baseball operations and acting-GM Mike Elias to add pitching depth heading into the second half of the season.
Sanders, 29, has appeared in parts of the last two big-league seasons with Pittsburgh but has struggled to find consistent success. In nine appearances with the Pirates this season, he posted an 8.68 ERA while striking out 13 batters over 9.1 innings. His biggest issue has been command, as he also issued 10 walks during that span.
In 22 games at the Triple-A level this year, Sanders has posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in just over 24 innings of work.
Despite the inflated ERA, the Orioles are likely intrigued by Sanders’ raw stuff. The former LSU product and Chicago Cubs prospect features a mid-90s fastball paired with a hard slider that has generated plenty of swings and misses throughout his professional career.
With Sanders being optioned to Norfolk, he will have the opportunity to work with the Orioles’ development staff without the pressure of contributing immediately at the major-league level. Should more injuries arise or Baltimore need another fresh arm later this season, Sanders could quickly find himself back in the majors.
For now, the move is best viewed as adding organizational depth.
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