Duquette says Trumbo trade won't be Orioles' last move
Christmas came early for the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday as they pulled off a deal for a player with huge power potential.
The Orioles officially acquired first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo and left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher/first baseman Steve Clevenger.
"This isn't the last move the club is going to make to put our team together for 2016," Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said Wednesday after the deal was announced. "I can't tell you who we are going to sign in the future, but the addition of a proven major-league hitter like Mark Trumbo today lengthens our lineup and gives us another hitter in the lineup who can hit both left and right-handed pitching. And, in Mark's case, (he) can hit the ball out of the ballpark."
Trumbo is projected to earn $9.1 million in 2016 through arbitration, which was the driving force behind Seattle's willingness to part with him. He hit .262/.310/.449 with 22 home runs in 142 games split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners. However, Trumbo has averaged 26 homers per season over his five-year career and will now likely hit in the middle of Baltimore's lineup with Adam Jones and Manny Machado. A move from cavernous Safeco Field to Camden Yards should also help his home-run stroke.
The Orioles entered the offseason thin at the corner outfield spots, and Trumbo can certainly be used to fill that void, or be used at first base if Baltimore can't retain the services of Chris Davis.
"I've always thought very highly of the way the Orioles compete on both sides of the ball, especially being a hitter I've always admired the at-bats the guys have been able to put together," Trumbo said. "I'm looking forward to being a part of it."
Riefenhauser is 1-0 with a lofty 6.30 ERA in 24 games at the major-league level. He's a former 20th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, and has posted an impressive 2.77 ERA over six campaigns in the minors.
Clevenger is not yet arbitration-eligible and is projected to earn $520,000 next season. He posted a .287/.314/.426 slash line with two homers and 15 RBIs in 30 games last season.