The Baltimore Orioles traded Oscar Salazar yesterday to San Diego for P Cla Meredith.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/07/19/padres.orioles.trade.ap/index.html?eref=si_mlb
This was the right move for the organization.
For a team that is building, you do not keep a 31 year old AAAA player in Oscar Salazar over a 24 year-old prospect like Felix Pie.
Short-term it hurts, because Salazar has shown the ability to play multiple positions (not-well, but useful enough) and provide offense off the bench. That is a skill and Salazar deserves credit for that.
Long-term, you are still trying to build. Pie may never be a long-term piece, but based on his track-record in AAA, and his age – he has the chance to help you. Salazar is an extremely easily replaced type of player. Replacing the physical skills of Pie, is not as easy.
I do not ‘love’ Pie, but I like what he has done as a professional. I know it was the PCL, but I do not think his production over his 1100 AAA at-bats can be ignored.
2006 Age 21: 559 at-bats, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 15 homers, 57 rbi, 283 avg, 792 OPS
2007 Age 22: 229 at-bats, 9 doubles, 5 triples 9 homers, 43 rbi, 362 avg, 973 OPS
2008 Age 23: 335 at-bats, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, 55 rbi, 287 avg, 802 OPS (23 walks, 54 k’s)
I also would not ignore what he has done in the Majors over 360 at-bats, I just think those ML at-bats carry less weight as they have been at ages 22-24, and not on a regular-basis. I think it bears repeating that Pie is a full-year younger than Reimold.
This morning in an on-line exchange with WNST 1570 Producer Glenn Clark, Mr. Clark essientially stated that because the O’s had CF Joey Gathright at AAA Norfolk, they could afford to lose Pie.
That is just absurd.
Gathright is 28 years-old, and in over 1,100 Major League at-bats has a career .630 OPS.
Yes, I acknowledge he could help as a 4th OF. He is a good defensive OF, with speed. However, that is his absolute cieling. Where as Pie still projects as a player that could potentially start for you.
That is a huge difference, and you do not give rid of such a commodity (regardless of the chances of him actually reaching his potential) to keep a AAAA player like Salazar.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.