Evaluating Alexander's fit and Strowd's departure

The Orioles’ bench was already crowded. The Orioles’ bullpen already had question marks.

Today, though, Baltimore added to their position player depth while subtracting from the ‘pen, sending reliever Kade Strowd and prospects Wellington Aracena and José Mejía to the Diamondbacks in exchange for utility man Blaze Alexander.

On the surface, this positional calculus may not add up. But Alexander’s unique skill set could separate him from the bench pack, while the O’s surplus of righty relief options might mitigate Strowd’s loss.

Alexander, the 26-year-old IMG Academy product, was a perennial upper-tier prospect in the Diamondbacks’ system, ranking as high as No. 9 overall back in 2019, according to MLB Pipeline. After a promotion to the bigs in 2024, Alexander found himself in a bench role with Arizona last season, appearing in 74 games and accumulating a 1.7 Baseball Reference WAR.

Though he does sport an .829 OPS in his minor league career, the most valuable part of Alexander’s game might just come defensively, where he’s capable of playing all over the diamond. Last season, the Florida native appeared at four different positions: third base, second base, left field and center field. According to Statcast, the righty was in the 70th percentile in baseball in outs above average, 63rd percentile in arm strength, and 86th percentile in sprint speed.

One position stands above the rest in differentiating Alexander from the rest of the O’s bench options: center field.

Leody Taveras, signed early in the offseason, can play anywhere in the outfield. Jeremiah Jackson, a former minor league signing turned big-league success story, can play second base, third base, shortstop, and the corner outfield. Only Alexander, who played shortstop in the bigs in 2024, can do it all.

If Alexander can fill the projected roles of both Taveras and Jackson, perhaps Baltimore’s bench could have room for both Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo.

The former Diamondback did post a solid season at the plate, too, with an OPS just over .700 and an OPS+ of 95. He shone brightest against left-handed pitching, reaching base at a .357 clip with an OPS of .780. Perhaps the right-handed Alexander could be an option to spell lefties Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser, who, last season, had an OPS of .572 and .638 against left-handers, respectively.

The two will still be everyday players in 2026. But when they need days off, a contest against a lefty starter could be the time to spell them.

Any quality addition, of course, requires value in return. The crowded bullpen race just got harder to project.

Among a group of right-handed bullpen options fighting for a roster spot, Strowd had seemingly separated himself from the pack. The former 12th-round-pick posted an impressive 1.71 ERA in 25 appearances last season with the underlying metrics to suggest that the strong campaign wasn’t a fluke.

Baltimore isn’t short on righty relievers, though.

Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge are already locks to break camp, and Yennier Cano might be, too. If Tyler Wells isn’t in the starting rotation, he will certainly be on the roster in some capacity. That already makes four right-handers in the ‘pen.

More than likely, Baltimore won’t carry more than six right-handed relievers. Their remaining options for those spots include Albert Suárez, Rico Garcia, Colin Selby, Anthony Nunez, Cameron Foster, Chayce McDermott, Jose Espada, Yaramil Hiraldo and Hans Crouse, among others. Even without Strowd, options are aplenty.

A move to add to the bullpen could still be in the cards, too. The Orioles likely aren’t done with their offseason maneuvering.

In the meantime, Alexander helps improve the O’s athleticism and defense.