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ORIOLES ACQUIRE TREVOR ROGERS FROM THE MIAMI MARLINS IN EXCHANGE FOR CONNOR NORBY AND KYLE STOWERS
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher TREVOR ROGERS from the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder/outfielder CONNOR NORBY and outfielder KYLE STOWERS.
Rogers, 26, is 2-9 with a 4.53 ERA (53 ER/105.1 IP) with 115 hits (12 HR), 58 total runs allowed, 46 walks (2 IBB), three hit batters, and 85 strikeouts in 21 starts with the Marlins this season. In nine starts since June 9, he’s posted a 3.17 ERA (17 ER/48.1 IP) while surrendering two runs or fewer in eight of those games. He was a 2021 National League All-Star after pitching to a 2.31 ERA (26 ER/101.1 IP) in 18 starts before the break and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Cincinnati’s Jonathan India. He was selected by Miami in the first round (13th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Carlsbad (NM) High School.
Norby, 24, is slashing .188/.188/.406 (6-for-32) with one double, two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI in nine games with the Orioles this season. He made his MLB debut on June 3 at Toronto and hit his first career home run off Blue Jays righty Nate Pearson the next day. Norby is ranked the No. 5 O’s prospect and No. 9 overall second base prospect by MLB Pipeline. He was selected by Baltimore in the second round (41st overall) of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University (NC).
Stowers, 26, batted .306/.297/.500 (11-for-36) with four doubles, one home run, three runs scored, and nine RBI in 19 games with Baltimore this year. He made his MLB debut on June 13, 2022, and hit his first big league homer on August 25, 2022, off Liam Hendriks, a game-tying solo blast with two outs in the ninth inning. Stowers was the Brooks Robinson Minor League Co-Player of the Year (with Adley Rutschman) in 2021. He was selected by Baltimore in the Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University (CA).
Orioles rookie Heston Kjerstad was a part of the Triple-A Norfolk team last year that ended up winning the Triple-A championship. He was with the Orioles when the Tides won that title in late September, but the lineup that night for the Tides included infielder Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers, who were traded today to the Marlins for lefty pitcher Trevor Rogers.
That lineup also included Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Joey Ortiz.
It's easy to see how that team won a title.
Today Kjerstad is still an Oriole, but the other two are not.
“Norby and Stowers have been awesome. Not only great friends to me but great baseball players,” Kjerstad said this afternoon in the Baltimore clubhouse. “They’re going to go on and have great big league careers. They’ve been fun to watch play.
The Orioles found another starting pitcher before this evening’s trade deadline. It cost them a pair of major league-caliber players, including their No. 5 prospect.
Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers, 26, was acquired from the Marlins for second baseman Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers, according to multiple sources. Norby will be removed from the major league roster after appearing in five of the last six lineups. He sat for Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader and had a double in the nightcap for his first hit at Camden Yards.
Rogers was the 13th-overall pick in the 2017 draft who’s gone 15-32 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.385 WHIP in 80 starts on some pretty bad teams. He’s posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP this season in 21 games but has a 3.32 ERA in his last eight starts.
Rogers appeared in only four games last season due to biceps, lat and shoulder injuries. He was an All-Star in 2021 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting with a 2.64 ERA and 1.150 WHIP in 25 outings, striking out 157 batters in 133 innings.
The Orioles can field a rotation with Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Rogers, however the last two are aligned. They didn’t show a willingness to part with the top prospects in their system despite rumors tying them to Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet and Blake Snell.
Right-hander Zach Eflin started for the Orioles in Game 1 yesterday. He threw well and got the win against Toronto in his O's debut. He also did something unusual for him. He fanned seven batters to tie a season-high and had six strikeouts after just four innings.
Thirteen times this year in his 20 starts, Eflin fanned five or fewer. He's mostly a control artist and a pitch-to-contact guy.
He is much more of that style pitcher then one with a premium fastball and a big strikeout rate.
Eflin can be a strikeout pitcher. And last year when his ERA was 3.50 and he finished sixth for the AL Cy Young award, he averaged 9.4 strikeouts per every nine innings. But the year before, in 2022, he averaged 7.7 K/9 and this year his average is 7.1 K/9.
There was a day in this game when 7.1 strikeouts per 9 was a lot. For instance, Jim Palmer for his career averaged 5.0 strikeouts per nine and yet won three Cy Young Awards. Today 7.1 per nine is below average.
The Orioles have made the following roster move:
- Returned 27th man LHP Cade Povich to Triple-A Norfolk after today’s doubleheader.
A straight doubleheader is coming up today at Oriole Park as the Orioles (62-43) host Toronto (49-56) to begin a four-game series.
The Orioles beat San Diego 8-6 on Sunday to avoid being swept three in a row as they snapped San Diego's seven-game win streak.
Even with that win the Orioles are 1-4 their past five series. They have lost five of seven, 10 of 15 and 12 of their past 19 games. They improved to 13-18 the last 31 games.
The Orioles had lost eight of their past nine home games until taking the win on Sunday.
Orioles pitchers have allowed six or more runs for six consecutive games, allowing six, six, six, six, nine and six runs. That is the longest such streak since eight straight games allowing six or more runs from Aug. 12-19, 2021.
The Orioles have made the following roster move:
- Added LHP Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader. He will start the second game.
When it comes to O’s infielder Connor Norby, ranked as the club’s No. 5 prospect by MLBPipeline.com and No. 7 via Baseball America, there are differing opinions on his defense.
Baseball America provides Norby a slightly below average 45 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale for his fielding and a 40 for arm. MLBPipeline goes 50 and 50 for both - essentially big league average.
In the early innings Saturday, Norby looked like a plus defender.
He made a fantastic play in the first inning Saturday. He ranged up the middle sliding onto the outfield to field a Manny Machado grounder and then he got a lot on the throw from the seat of his pants for the out. Two innings later he made another nice play and cut down a runner at home with an off balance throw with the infield in.
There was nothing below average about those plays. Both were big and provided a chance for Norby to show he has improved a lot with his second-base defense.
The Orioles have been swept this year three in a row by St. Louis, Houston and the Chicago Cubs. Today the San Diego Padres, winners of seven in a row, will try to add their name to the list.
San Diego (57-50) has won the first two games of this series by 6-4 and 9-4 scores. The Padres have won these last seven versus Cleveland, Washington and the Orioles. They have outscored their opponents 43-12 in this stretch, pitching three shutouts.
Their team ERA is 1.57 during the seven games as they have allowed a .143 batting average, a .443 OPS and just four home runs.
Their hitters are scoring 6.1 runs per game in the win streak, batting .308 with an .832 team OPS in the seven games.
San Diego is 12-3 in its last 15 road games, and that is the best road record in the major leagues since June 19.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Activated RHP Zach Eflin. He will wear No. 24.
- Optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
This stat has been pointed out a few times, but even in going 12-18 the last 30 games, the Orioles gained ground on the Yankees. Yes, that is crazy.
On June 20, before the last 30 games, the Orioles were 49-25 (.662) yet a 1/2 game out of first place. Since June 21, even in losing 18 of 30, the O's still lead the American League East by one game after their loss yesterday and the Yankees' 10-inning victory last night.
The games, beyond the stats, tell us that the Yankees have played poor ball for a long time too. But the Orioles' play has fallen. here is a statistical look:
Here are some O's team stats through June 20 and where they ranked in the major leagues:
* 5.27 runs per game (1)
* OPS of .769 (2)
* Slugging .456 (1)
* Home runs per game 1.61 (1)
* Team ERA 3.13 (tied for 1st)
* OPS against .632 (1)
* 0.83 HRs allowed per nine innings (2)
The Orioles are in such a funk right now that they can’t catch a break or a popup.
Gunnar Henderson and Ramón Urías converged on a ball today in the second inning that should have stranded two runners in scoring position. Kyle Higashioka skied a four-seamer with the count full and Dean Kremer appeared to escape the jam.
A routine play except when a team is scuffling in pretty much every facet of the game.
Henderson and Urías collided, the ball popped out of the third baseman’s glove and the Orioles were down by two runs.
Urías couldn’t backhand Xander Bogaerts’ 102.1 mph grounder down the line in the third inning that was ruled a double and scored Jurickson Profar, another runner crossed in the fourth on Henderson’s throwing error, and the Orioles stayed behind until the finish in a 9-4 loss to the Padres before an announced crowd of 30,008 at Camden Yards.
Two days ago the Orioles had a 6-0 lead and almost lost. Last night they held an early two-run lead, were tied in the ninth and lost 6-4 to the Padres in the opener of a three-game series.
The Orioles (61-42) still lead the American League East by two games over the Yankees as both clubs keep losing often lately.
The Orioles have lost four of five, nine of 13 and 11 of their past 17 games. Since June 21 they are 12-17 with a -41 run differential.
The Yankees have lost five of six games and are 2-5 since the All-Star break (the O’s are 3-4). Since June 21, New York is 9-19 with a -16 run differential.
San Diego (56-50) has a six-game winning streak after Friday’s 6-4 victory and they have outscored their opponents 34-8 in those games.
Jorge Mateo has his left elbow in a brace and no further updates on his health.
Mateo suffered a transient dislocation Tuesday in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson during a 6-3 loss to the Marlins. He needs to undergo further testing but the Orioles are waiting for the swelling to go down.
“It was a difficult moment when I saw and felt my arm bend that way,” Mateo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Yeah, just a difficult moment for me, for the team, for my family.”
Surgery is a possibility but the medical staff is collecting more information.
“We still don’t have anything concrete,” Mateo said. “We’re still waiting for the team to ultimately make a decision and see what happens from there.”
Jordan Westburg and Ryan Mountcastle are on the bench this afternoon and Connor Norby is at second base, as the Orioles continue their series against the Padres.
Colton Cowser is in left field and Heston Kjerstad is the designated hitter.
Adley Rutschman is catching. He’s 8-for-64 (.125) this month.
Anthony Santander, who’s in right field, has hit six home runs in his last eight games and leads the club with 29, one more than his 2023 total.
Cowser has a career-high seven-game hitting streak. He’s 10-for-24 during that stretch.
A normal day at Camden Yards would have led the visiting media to Manny Machado’s locker. He would have been the most interesting story. And eventually, I would have remembered that Connor Norby was making his home debut.
But mostly Manny.
Machado’s arrival in Baltimore, his second in a Padres uniform, is bound to conjure memories of his departure. Rumors surfacing of his pending trade to the Dodgers during the 2018 All-Star game in D.C. For me, a text message from a team official stating that the deal wasn’t done despite reports to the contrary, and he was right.
Machado knew that he was a goner and had a member of the public relations staff summon the beat writers to a private area at Nats Park for goodbyes and a group photo. Away from the other writers who surrounded his locker and got nothing substantial.
I’ll never forget Machado thanking us for understanding that he was “different.” He wasn’t always the easiest player to cover, but he appreciated the relationship that developed.
We have seen the Orioles go 20-9 this year versus the American League East. We have seen them produce nine straight winning months, the longest current active streak in the majors. Since the start of 2023, Baltimore is 162-102 (.614), and that is the best win percentage in the majors in that span.
In the span of four series in June we saw the Orioles sweep four in a row at Tampa Bay and win consecutive series against Atlanta, Philadelphia and the New York Yankees.
But since they capped that four-series run by beating the Yankees 17-5, it has turned for the worse. And the Orioles can't seem to turn it back.
Since June 21 they look nothing like a playoff team. They have two five-game losing streaks in this stretch and in their most recent five games, they are 1-4.
That is a mark of 12-17 and a -41 run differential since that June day.
It's already been a busy day for the Orioles, who have made two trades involving seven players and added two pitchers. But tonight they get back on the field and host San Diego to begin a new homestand.
Earlier today they dealt outfielder Austin Hays to the Philadelphia Phillies for relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Later they acquired starting pitcher Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher Jackson Baumeister, infielder Mac Horvath and outfielder Matthew Etzel. The Orioles selected all three in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Baumeister was rated their No. 17 prospect by MLBPipeline.com and No. 18 via Baseball America. Horvath was ranked No. 10 by MLB Pipeline and No. 13 by Baseball America. Etzel was not a top 30 prospect.
The Orioles are 61-41 and leading the American League East by two games over the Yankees after their wild win Thursday at Miami, 7-6 in 10 innings. The Birds hit three early homers in the win as Anthony Santander and Connor Norby hit solo shots and Colton Cowser added a three-run blast.
Cowser has a six-game hitting streak and is 8-for-20 in this span with two doubles, two homers and nine RBIs. During the streak he is batting .400 with an OPS of 1.300.
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher ZACH EFLIN and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher JACKSON BAUMEISTER, minor league infielder/outfielder MAC HORVATH, and minor league outfielder MATTHEW ETZEL.
Eflin, 30, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA (50 ER/110.0 IP) with 115 hits (14 HR), 55 total runs allowed, three hit-by-pitches, 13 walks, and 87 strikeouts in 19 games, all starts, for the Rays. His 2.8 percent walk rate is the second-best among qualified pitchers in MLB this season behind Seattle’s George Kirby (2.6%), and his 5.0 walk rate since debuting in 2016 is the third-best among active qualified pitchers behind St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas (4.3%) and Los Angeles-NL’s Clayton Kershaw (4.7%). Eflin won a career-high 16 games for Tampa Bay last year, tied with Toronto’s Chris Bassitt for the most in the American League, while his 1.02 WHIP was the second-best mark in MLB behind New York-AL’s Gerrit Cole (0.98). He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023. The right-hander was originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the Supplemental First Round (33rd overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Hagerty (FL) High School. He was acquired by the Dodgers as part of a five-player trade involving Matt Kemp on December 18, 2014, and by the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-player move for Jimmy Rollins on December 19, 2014. Eflin signed a three-year contract with the Rays in December 2022 that runs through the 2025 season.
Baumeister, 22, is 1-3 with a 3.06 ERA (24 ER/70.2 IP) with 53 hits (3 HR), 31 total runs, seven hit-by-pitches, 43 walks, and 91 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts, with High-A Aberdeen. He was selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (63rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University. Baumeister is ranked as the No. 17 O’s prospect and No. 6 Orioles pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Horvath, 23, is slashing .232/.328/.417 (63-for-271) with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 40 runs scored, 41 RBI, four hit-by-pitches, 37 walks, and 26 stolen bases in 71 games with High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (53rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina. Horvath is ranked as the No. 10 O’s prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Etzel, 22, is batting .289/.363/.445 (87-for-301) with 15 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 46 runs scored, 47 RBI, two hit-by-pitches, 36 walks (2 IBB), and 41 stolen bases in 83 combined games between Double-A Bowie and High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the 10th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.
With all the speculation that the O’s might be trading some prospects at the trade deadline and amid recent reports via ESPN that the club might be willing to deal Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins, it was another long-time O's player leaving the club.
Austin Hays, a veteran of 557 games over parts of seven seasons with the Orioles, was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The return was right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache.
Domínguez, 29, provides help for the Baltimore bullpen, which allowed late-game runs the last two days at Miami.
Domínguez is 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.222 WHIP on the year over 36 innings. Over the last three seasons, since 2022, he has a 3.74 ERA and 1.256 WHIP.
