Baltimore Orioles: Andino to Seattle

Luckily for Robert Andino, he (along with the rest of the Baltimore Orioles) got used to playing in Seattle after back-to-back 18 and 11 inning games there this September. Andino was traded to Seattle by the Orioles yesterday in exchange for outfielder Trayvon Robinson. Andino played in 360 games over the course of the past four years with the Orioles, and hit .239 with 16 homers and 80 RBI. He was the on-again-off-again second baseman in Baltimore in the absence of Brian Roberts over much of that time. Robinson, 25, is a left fielder, and will add depth to that position going into spring training and possibly the regular season (2013). He was originally part of the Boston Red Sox organization, and was dealt to Seattle in a 2011 deadline deal that sent former Oriole Erik Bedard to Boston. He played in 46 games with Seattle in 2012, hitting .221, with nine homers and 21 RBI.

Courtesy of Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

Andino will best be remembered in Baltimore for the walkoff double on the last day of the 2011 season that helped to send the Boston Red Sox home as opposed to them going to the postseason. That was seen as possibly one of the most exciting moments in a generation at Camden Yards, and was very much the launching point for 2012’s successes. Andino was a streaky player of sorts while in Baltimore, however his career was very much resurrected upon the arrival of Buck Showalter. Andino felt he had been misunderstood by other managers (namely Dave Trembley) over time, and he always felt that Showalter gave him a chance to succeed.

Speaking for myself and I hope for the Orioles fans, I wish Andino well as he heads to Seattle. Robinson’s role on the Orioles in 2013 is unclear, other than GM Dan Duquette saying that he had a chance to make the team out of spring training. The O’s are currently trying to bring Nate McLouth back in some manner for 2013, and of course the oft-injured Nolan Reimold will also be in the mix.