Visits: 3
The busiest weekend in Major League Baseball has arrived and not, it’s not the World Series. This Tuesday, August 2nd, marks the annual MLB trade deadline and for many players this time represents both bittersweet changes and new opportunities with different ballclubs. For Orioles fan favorite Trey Mancini, his chances of playing in the postseason this year went up exponentially. No, the Orioles aren’t guaranteed to earn a wild card spot this year. Mancini found himself yesterday part of a three-team deal that sent him to the Houston Astros and immediately in the heart of a possible World Series bid.
Orioles fan favorite Trey Mancini heading to the Astros in three team deal.
In a complex three team deal between the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays, the Astros picked up Mancini and found themselves with a valuable utility player who can easily play first base, anywhere in the outfield, can slide into the DH role or work as a latter inning pinch hitter. Mancini is currently batting .268 with an OBP of .347 and has ten homers; that home run number could go up quickly at hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park. Mancini is the longest tenured Oriole and a prostate cancer survivor; his struggles to regain full health and play again for the O’s endeared him to fans and teammates alike. Mancini’s leadership role in the clubhouse is another asset and he brings a stellar personal reputation to the Astros organization that has been tainted in recent years with scandals both real and alleged.
In exchange for Mancini, the Orioles are receiving Seth Johnson from the Rays farm system and Chayce McDermott from the Astros. Both are right-handed pitchers and Orioles general manager Mike Elias is betting on the future by trading away Mancini. This signal from the Orioles front office is an indication that making the playoffs this season is not necessarily the top priority but the Orioles are planning for a long-term competitive future down the road in the vastly competitive AL East. For his part, Trey Mancini leaves the Orioles as a popular figure and his recent inside the park homer against the Rays has become a hit on ESPN and major social media not only for the unlikely way this play unfolded but Mancini’s hustle showed baseball fans what Trey Mancini is all about. As the Orioles lose a part of their revitalization efforts, the Astros are receiving a valuable tool in Mancini who could quickly pay dividends in the postseason.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login