For the first year-plus of the Mike Elias era of Orioles baseball, the club’s trades were centered mostly on acquiring far-away Latin American teenagers and lower-level pitching that rated well in their recent draft evaluations.
In acquiring Jahmai Jones, a second baseman/outfielder and former Top 100 prospect from the Angels this week in a trade that sent a reported $10 million in present-day and deferred money with veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to Los Angeles, the Orioles might be transitioning how they’re thinking a bit.
The shift started over the summer when high-minors hitters like Tyler Nevin and Terrin Vavra were acquired from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for reliever Mychal Givens.