Baltimore Orioles bolster rotation with Oakland A’s trade

Looking to add to their rotation, the Baltimore Orioles acquired starting pitcher Cole Irvin from the Oakland A’s on Thursday. Going with Irvin to the Orioles is minor league right-hander Kyle Virbitsky while Oakland received minor league infielder Darell Hernaiz as the only player in the deal.

Cole Irvin gives Baltimore Orioles another weapon in the rotation

The swap will immediately benefit Baltimore, a team that surprised many last season by contending for a postseason berth until late in the season. The Orioles could be in the same position in 2023, and the soon-to-be 29-year-old Irvin will play a role in that postseason chase, slotting into a Baltimore rotation that features another arm signed this offseason, right-hander Kyle Gibson.

Irvin has started 62 games for the A’s over the last two seasons, racking up 359.1 innings during that span as well as a 4.11 ERA/4.21 FIP/1.278 WHIP. Purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies for $100,000, Irvin became one of the most consistent members of an A’s rotation that once included Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, but has now been completely dismantled by trades.

Posting an ERA+ of 96 during his two seasons in Oakland, Irvin is not scheduled to be a free agent until the 2027 campaign, meaning Baltimore has acquired a pitcher that could be a part of their long-term plans. Meanwhile, Irvin’s departure clears the way for another spot in the Oakland rotation that will likely be filled by newcomers Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski.

Our friends at White Cleat Beat have a quick breakdown on Virbitsky here. He was not among the top 30 prospects for the A’s per MLB.com as he finished the 2022 season at High-A.

Hernaiz, however, was a member of the top 30 prospects for the Orioles, slashing .273/.341/.438 across three levels last season and advancing to Double-A. Last year, he played the majority of games at shortstop (58), but also saw time at second base (24) and third base (21).