Sam Valentine

For years it has been no secret that the O’s need pitching. Well, they did just that today by acquiring Cole Irvin from the Oakland Athletics. 

Orioles middle infield prospect, Darrel Hernaiz, was dealt to the A’s for starting pitcher, Irvin, and minor league righty, Kyle Virbitsky. This move surely strengthens the Orioles’ rotation, which has been a question mark especially with John Means recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

Irvin turns 29 years old next week but is under team control till 2026 and is not arbitration eligible until 2024. He started 30 games for the A’s in 2022 going 9-13 with an era of 3.98 in 181 innings. 

It is a move that makes sense and is super Oriole-like in nature to not spend money to bring in a veteran arm that can eat up some innings for a young up and coming team. It is not a move that jumps off the page but it is another piece while the O’s did not give up much in terms of a top prospect.

Hernaiz was drafted in the fifth round in the 2019 draft and has held his own in the minors since. He batted .273 with 12 homers, 62 RBI while stealing 32 bags across three levels. He reached double A Bowie in the last month of the year but the O’s have plethora of middle infielders so one had to go and it just so happened to be him.

The Orioles still hold onto MLB Pipelines number one prospect heading into the season, Gunnar Henderson. 2022 number one overall draft pick, Jackson Holliday. Then fringe top 100 infielders in Jordan Westburg, Coby Mayo, and Connor Norby. Guys like Cesar Prieto and Max Wagner still interesting enough but further down the list. Do not be surprised if one or two of these names is dealt between now and the trade deadline to more than likely bolster the rotation. 

Many thought that pitching would come via free agency with that well being dried up as the prices on pitchers continues to soar the Orioles opted for a cheaper option which they do frequently. They brought in veteran right- hander Kyle Gibson. It is a one-year deal at 10 million dollars. This deal seems a lot like the Jordan Lyles deal last year that did just fine for the Orioles while eating up innings. 

Trevor Bauer seems to be the only viable pitcher still left on the market but there is a ton of baggage attached to him that makes him less attractive. Now the stuff is there and clear-cut and should be cheap since the Dodgers are still paying him. There just seems to be too many question marks surrounding him but one has to assume a talent like that gets signed at some point.