Baltimore Orioles trade for Odrisamer Despaigne

The Baltimore Orioles have traded for RHP Odrisamer Despaigne, previously of the San Diego Padres.

The Baltimore Orioles made a trade yesterday afternoon, sending minor league pitcher Jean Cosme to San Diego for RHP Odrisamer Despaigne. A Cuban native, Despaigne was signed by San Diego in 2014, is 9-16 lifetime over two big league seasons, and pitched to a 4.74 ERA. Granted those aren’t exactly numbers that aren’t exactly numbers that are going to blow you away. However I suspect that Despaigne is being projected as a starter for the O’s this year.

Cosme on the other hand was a 17th round draft pick by the Orioles in 2014. He was 3-5 last year at single-A short season Aberdeen. Ironically, he pitched to an identical ERA as Despaigne of 4.74. At the end of the day, the Orioles didn’t have to give up a heck of a lot to get Despaigne, which makes it a halfway decent move for starters.

However only time will tell us if in fact this was a good trade from the Orioles’ perspective. Again the Orioles haven’t said this specifically, however my personal opinion is that Despaigne is being brought here to be a starter. The Orioles’ ‘pen appears to be set, so I don’t see him landing there.

Call to the Pen

The Orioles also announced yesterday that they had reached an aggreement with LHP Brian Matusz on a contract for 2016. Matusz signed for $3.9 million, thus avoiding arbitration. The Orioles have proven that they’re one of the teams against who you don’t want to go to arbitration. They haven’t lost a case in almost twenty years. Matusz now enters the final year or his contract, as he’s a pending free agent in 2017.

On another front. L.J. Hoes has cleared waivers and was outrighted to triple-A Norfolk. Hoes of course was drafted and traded away by the Orioles, only to return to this organization this off season in a trade. However he was DFA’d last month, and has chosen to remain in the organization and accept a minor league assignment. 

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As much as the Orioles use their minor league affiliates over the course of a season, I suspect we’ll see Hoes in Baltimore at some point. If I were him I’d be looking to make a big splash in spring training, because he could be auditioning for a roster spot later in the season. That’s one of the great things about spring training; managers can get  a look at guys and when the need is there during the regular season they’re a phone call away.

Next: Baltimore Orioles: Grapefruit League Standings

The Despaigne trade isn’t going to rattle any cages, however it’ll be interesting to see how he slides into the rotation. He could easily be a back-of-the-rotation guy that could eat some innings up. He could also be a bust. Time will tell.