On July 30, the day of the MLB trade deadline, Mike Elias and his staff made a chaotic flurry of moves. The Orioles wheeled and dealed with five different teams in trades that involved 12 players. Add in the Birds’ two previous trades July 26 and the club ultimately acquired or sent away 19 players in a frenzied five-day span.
You’d be forgiven if you overlooked one minor trade the Orioles made within that whirlwind. Minutes before the deadline, they pulled off a rare prospect-for-prospect swap, sending utility man Billy Cook to the Pirates for right-hander Patrick Reilly.