Baltimore Orioles trade more international signing bonus money

The Baltimore Orioles have traded even more of their international signing bonus money, acquiring Xavier Moore from the Minnesota Twins.

Over the years, the Baltimore Orioles have been known for sending their international signing bonus money to other teams for somewhat uninspiring minor league players. Their ignoring of the international market has led to a minor league system devoid of top talent, making what will likely be an extended rebuild all the more painful.

However, that had been changing. The Orioles had acquired extra money towards the international signing bonus, and had heavily pursued Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr, and Sandy Gaston. However, they were unable to land any of that trio, leaving the Orioles with over $6 million, and not much to spend it on.

As such, on Sunday, the Orioles reverted to their previous usage of that money. They have sent $750,000 in international signing bonus money to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Xavier Moore.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

This was actually the second time that Moore had been traded on Sunday. Earlier, he had been sent from the Texas Rangers to Minnesota for Zack Granite, who had been designated for assignment when the Twins signed Marwin Gonzalez.

A 16th round draft choice in 2017, Moore has yet to pitch above the low minors. Last season, split between the Rangers Rookie League franchise and the Northwest League, Moore posted a 5.30 ERA and a 1.607 WHiP, striking out 21 batters in 18.2 innings. However, his command left a lot to be desired, as Moore also issued ten walks and threw four wild pitches.

Despite those pedestrian statistics, Moore is still a projectable reliever. He has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, along with a decent slider and splitter. At 6’2″ tall and 175 pounds, it is easy to picture the 20 year old Moore adding more velocity as his frame fills out. He is the type of arm that it would make sense for the Orioles to target as a potential long term piece for the bullpen.

While it is easy to dismiss the Orioles trading international bonus money as just Baltimore being Baltimore, it makes sense at this juncture. Yolbert Sanchez is really the only big name still available in the international free agent market, and the Orioles still have a great deal more than the next closest competitor. It is still possible that they come away with the Cuban shortstop if he agrees to a deal during this signing period. Otherwise, it is not as though that money the Orioles have will roll over to the next international signing period.

The Baltimore Orioles have traded away more of their international bonus pool. Even though it seems like business as usual, that is not the case.