The Baltimore Orioles have been in search of an outfielder for most of the offseason, especially after they lost Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz via free agency. The team acquired one on Tuesday night in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Earlier today Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reported that the Orioles were "closing in on the framework of a deal" to get outfielder Travis Snider from the Pirates. He has now confirmed the deal is done and Baltimore will send prospect pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named to Pittsburgh.
Snider will now join the Orioles, who were in desperate need of a corner outfielder. After Markakis signed with the Atlanta Braves and Cruz landed with the Seattle Mariners, the Orioles flirted with a number of ideas, including trading for names such as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier or Charlie Blackmon as well as signing Nori Aoki, Colby Rasmus or Melky Cabrera.
They've finally found their man in Snider, who has spent seven seasons in the MLB with the Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old slashed .264/.338/.438 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in 140 games (359 plate appearances). The former first round draft pick split most of his games between left field and right field, but it looks like he'll be a full-time right fielder with the O's since Alejandro De Aza will likely stay in left.
Last season was the first time Snider played in more than 111 games, and he's only played in 543 for his career. He'll earn $2.1 million with Baltimore in 2015.
As for the Pirates, they'll receive Tarpley and a player to be named later, who Connolly suspects will be a hitter. The 21-year-old Tarpley was selected in the third round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft and has pitched 20 games in the Orioles' farm system.
The left-hander pitched in the team's rookie league in 2013 and finished with an 0-1 record despite a 2.14 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in seven starts (21 innings). He followed that up with a stint at Class Short-Season A Aberdeen and went 3-5 with a 3.68 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 13 games (12 starts).
We'll provide an update once it's known who the other player in the deal is.
