orioles
Pearce comes back
Veteran infielder-outfielder reacquired from Tampa Bay
at nonwaiver trade deadline for minor league catcher
The Orioles didn't make any major deals before Monday's 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline, but they did bring a familiar face back to Baltimore, reacquiring first baseman-outfielder Steve Pearce from the Tampa Bay Rays.
They sent minor league catcher Jonah Heim, the organization's fourth-round draft pick in 2013, who had been playing at High-A Frederick, to the Rays in the deal.
Reacquiring Pearce, who played part of the 2012 season and from 2013 to 2015 with the Orioles, gives the club a right-handed power bat and a player who can handle a variety of positions. He has played first, second and third base and both corner outfield spots in his career. This season, he has played only first, second and third.
The Orioles also now can play Pearce as part of a left field platoon with Hyun Soo Kim. Pearce is a career .273/.356/.504 hitter against left-handed pitching, and hit an impressive .377/.476/.736 clip in 63 plate appearances against left-handers this season.
Pearce, 33, hit .309/.388/.520 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 60 games with Tampa Bay. He returned to the Rays two weeks ago after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury.
A fan favorite for his blue-collar style and ability to play all around the diamond, Pearce will give the Orioles seven players with double-digit home run totals.
“Steve Pearce is a proven versatile veteran player who gives our club more punch and stronger defense whenever he is in the lineup and a stronger bench when he is not,” Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said.
Pearce enjoyed his best years with the Orioles. He played a key role on the club's American League East-winning team in 2014, when he had career highs in homers (21), RBIs (49), batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.373) and slugging percentage (.556). Pearce also led the team with 5.9 Wins Above Replacement that season.
Pearce's return to the Orioles is interesting because the team never made a play for him this past offseason when he was a free agent, even though he wanted to return. He instead signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal with the Rays.
The Orioles have been playing with a three-man bench, so adding Pearce could mean the team goes back to using 12 pitchers. The Orioles have had very little outfield depth since Joey Rickard went on the disabled list with a thumb injury.
The 21-year-old Heim was highly regarded by the Orioles for his skills behind the plate and was developing his offensive tools with the Keys. He is a career .216 hitter in four minor league seasons but already had hit a career-high seven homers in 88 games with Frederick this season. Heim's best asset, however, is undoubtedly his defense. He displayed an exemplary arm and good technique behind the plate.
But the Orioles also have Double-A Bowie catcher Chance Sisco, whose offensive tools made him Baseball America's 85th-ranked prospect overall. And they also have Audry Perez and Francisco Pena handling catching duties at Triple-A Norfolk.
The reacquisition of Pearce was the Orioles' second move before the trade deadline. On Sunday, they acquired veteran left-handed starter Wade Miley from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Norfolk left-hander Ariel Miranda.
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