The Orioles traded nine players before the trade deadline and received 16 minor leaguers in return. On September 23rd, we looked at how the players the Orioles received performed in their minor league season.
Now, let’s look at how the players the Orioles traded performed for their new teams.
Andrew Kittredge
Kittredge is just one of two of the nine players who’ll be playing in the Division Series. Kittredge was traded to the Chicago Cubs. On Thursday, the 35-year-old right-hander closed out the Wild Card series by throwing five pitches and getting two outs, allowing the Cubs to beat the San Diego Padres in two games.
Stats with Orioles: 2-2, 3.45 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings/
Stats with Cubs: 2-1, 3.32, 5 saves, 32 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings
Kittredge has been excellent of late for the Cubs, striking out 17 and walking just one in 9 2/3 innings in September. As the opener, Kittredge allowed a run in the first inning of Game 2, and was charged with the loss.
He has a $9 million option for next season, and if he continues to pitch well in the Division Series against Milwaukee, the Cubs will likely exercise the option.
Seranthony Domínguez
Domínguez’s Toronto Blue Jays won the American League East and will face the Yankees in the Division Series that begins Saturday.
Stats with Orioles: 2-3, 3.24, 2 saves, 6.9 hits per nine innings
Stats with Blue Jays: 2-1, 3.00, 5.1 hits per nine innings.
Dominguez, who’s a free agent, could make himself an attractive commodity. He’s tied for the major league lead with 12 wild pitches in 62 2/3 innings, one nearly every five innings.
Ryan O’Hearn
Besides Kittredge and Domínguez, O’Hearn is the only other player traded in July who played in the postseason. He and outfielder Ramón Laureano were traded to San Diego for six minor leaguers
Stats with Orioles: .283 average, .837 OPS, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs
Stats with Padres: .276 average, .736 OPS, 4 home runs, 20 RBIs
O’Hearn was the American League’s starting designated hitter in the All-Star Game. He was 2-for-9 in the Wild Card series loss to the Cubs.
He was excellent in March/April (.292, .920 OPS) and May (.365, .992 OPS) with nine home runs and 21 RBIs, but never showed as much power.
There will be a market for a left-handed hitter who can DH, play first and the corner outfield positions.
Ramón Laureano
Laureano was perhaps the Orioles’ happiest surprise in the first half, and continued to hit well for the Padres but didn’t play after September 24th because of a broken right index finger
Stats with Orioles: .290, .884 OPS, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs
Stats with Padres: .269, .812 OPS, 9 home runs, 30 RBIs
He was missed in the Wild Card series, but the good news is that San Diego can have him back if they pick up his $6.5 million option for 2026.
Their teams didn’t make the playoffs:
Cedric Mullins
Mullins had an awful time with the New York Mets after he was traded, playing in only 42 games.
Stats with Orioles: .229, .738 OPS, 15 home runs, 49 RBIs.
Stats with Mets: .182, .565 OPS, 2 home runs, 10 RBIs
Mullins isn’t likely to have much of a free-agent market, but Oriole fans will remember those wonderful catches in center field.
Gregory Soto
The left-hander was traded to the Mets six days before the trade deadline and did nothing to stop their late slide as they missed the final playoff spot by a game.
Stats with Orioles: 0-2, 3.96 with a save, 7.2 hits per nine innings
Stats with Mets: 1-3, 4.50, 12.4 hits per nine innings.
Soto could have helped his market value with a strong finish with the Mets, but he may be forced to settle for a minor league deal.
Ramón Urías
It came as a surprise to some when the Orioles traded Urías, who had another year before he was eligible for free agency. The Orioles seemed to have much more use for the utility infielder than did the Houston Astros. Perhaps his most memorable moment for the Astros came when he broke up Brandon Young’s perfect game after 7 2/3 innings on August 22nd.
Stats with Orioles: .248, .688 OPS, 8 home runs, 34 RBIs
Stats with Astros: .223, .640 OPS, 3 home runs 10 RBIs.
Urias played just 35 games for Houston, and it’s possible that the Astros don’t tender him a contract. He can play each of the four infield positions, so he probably won’t have much trouble finding a job next season.
Bryan Baker
His trade was unlike the others because the Orioles made the deal to get Tampa Bay’s Competitive Balance Round A pick, which turned out to be Oregon high school outfielder Slater de Brun.
Stats with Orioles: 3-2, 3.52, 2 saves
Stats with Rays: 1-2, 4.75, 1 save
Tampa Bay has three years of arbitration eligibility with Baker. The Rays finished just two games ahead of the Orioles for fourth place in the AL East.
Charlie Morton
Morton started out well with Detroit, continuing his string of good performances with the Orioles, However, he fizzled out and the Tigers pulled the plug on him
Stats with Orioles: 7-8, 5.42 in 23 games, 17 starts
Stats with Tigers: 2-3, 7.09 in nine starts
Morton was released by Detroit on September 21st and signed by Atlanta, which allowed him to start on the final day of the season, presumably ending his laudable career at age 41.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.