A rebuild is an imperfect science, no matter all of the scouting and analytics that dictate modern-day baseball transactions. There can nonetheless be misses, or accidents that derail a participant as soon as considered a centerpiece, and three strikes in latest months from the Orioles present as a lot.
The newest got here Friday, when Baltimore opted to position second baseman Jahmai Jones on unconditional launch waivers — probably ending the previous high 100 prospect’s time with the Orioles. He may at all times re-sign, notably as he rehabs from the Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure he underwent final week.
But the discharge of Jones is the newest reminder but of the imperfect means of buying and selling for unproven but promising younger gamers, and with one other commerce deadline approaching originally of August through which the Orioles will probably be sellers, there may very well be extra offers made with none ensures they’ll get main league contributors in return for those they offer up.
And Jones, who the Orioles acquired in a deal that despatched right-hander Alex Cobb — in addition to about $10 million to cowl a lot of the final yr of Cobb’s contract — to the Los Angeles Angels in February 2021, may very well be the first instance, with an damage and his launch inside per week.
“He’s still a young guy,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated. “Hopefully he’s got a long career ahead of him. Just one of those — that’s a tough injury that puts you out for a year or so. Like I said, he’s still young, and hopefully he can have a good career ahead of him.”
There are different latest examples of prospects the Orioles appeared excessive on earlier than circumstances required their elimination from the 40-man roster or they be positioned on waivers.
Left-hander Kevin Smith and a low-level prospect had been acquired from the New York Mets in alternate for right-hander Miguel Castro, however Smith handed by way of waivers this offseason, eradicating him from the 40-man roster as his outcomes on the minor league stage have left a lot to be desired.
Right-hander Isaac Mattson joined Baltimore alongside right-handers Zach Peek, Kyle Bradish and Kyle Brnovich from the Los Angeles Angels in alternate for right-hander Dylan Bundy in December 2019. Mattson made his main league debut final season however was faraway from the 40-man roster in April, a serious regression for an additional commerce piece.
Both Mattson and Smith handed by way of waivers unclaimed, undesirable on one other group’s 40-man roster not lengthy after Baltimore sought them out in trades. Jones did the identical, an indication the Orioles had been shifting on — at the least for the second — from all three.
When the Orioles traded for Jones, it appeared to sign a change in organizational route. For a lot of govt vice chairman and normal supervisor Mike Elias’ tenure in Baltimore, the group focused youthful expertise within the decrease reaches of the farm system.
The Orioles diverged from that in buying and selling Cobb for Jones in a 1-for-1 deal. Jones had already made his main league debut with the Angels, seemingly accelerating his time to achieve the massive leagues in Baltimore.
But after 72 plate appearances in 2021 with a .149 common, Jones was despatched again to the minors. He would possibly return sooner or later. But it was one other reminder that trades — for present main leaguers or these considered as future main leaguers — is an unsure enterprise with no ensures.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com