Baltimore Orioles Acquire Travis Snider
After multiple reports stated a deal was close, the Baltimore Orioles have officially acquired outfielder Travis Snider from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later.
The Orioles have confirmed the swap:
The Orioles have acquired OF Travis Snider from the Pirates in exchange for minor league LHP Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 28, 2015
Snider, 26, was a former first round pick and top prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays. He had good numbers in the minor leagues, but was unable to translate that success to the majors.
The Blue Jays finally gave up on Snider at the 2012 non-waiver trading deadline, being shipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates for right handed pitcher Brad Lincoln. Snider initially struggled for Pittsburgh down the stretch in 2012, and the entirety of 2013. However, Snider turned it around in 2014. He hit a solid .264/.338/.438 with 13 homers in 140 games, receiving many of his starts in right field for the Bucs.
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Now, the Orioles have acquired his services. Baltimore had been looking for a left-handed hitting corner outfielder to complement the right-handed hitting Steve Pearce. They finally have their man. Snider could possibly be part of a right field platoon with Pearce, and/or a DH platoon with Delmon Young. The O’s designated catcher Michael Ohlman for assignment to complete the transaction.
From the Pirates’ perspective, they are ready to hand the reigns of the right field job over to Gregory Polanco, making Snider somewhat expendable.
The player they received, Tarpley, was the Orioles’ third round draft pick in 2013. He went 3-5 with a 3.68 ERA at the Orioles’ Short Season-A affiliate and has a fair amount of upside, posing a decent return for the Pirates.
If Travis Snider can come close to repeating his 2014 season, he will be a welcome addition to the Orioles’ lineup.
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