Baltimore Orioles Claim RHP Ryan Eades, DFA Jimmy Yacabonis

The Baltimore Orioles added more pitching depth off waivers.

As first reported by MASN.com’s Roch Kubatko, the Baltimore Orioles have claimed RHP Ryan Eades off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Since the current Orioles 40-man roster is full, the Orioles have optioned RHP Jimmy Yacabonis and designated him for assignment.

Eades, like the Ty Blach waiver claim made by the Orioles just a few days ago, will look to add depth to a maligned pitching staff in Baltimore as the team finds ways to make it through the rest of the 2019 season without forcing notable prospects to make an unnecessary jump to the major leagues.

Eades, 27, is a former second-round pick of the Minnesota Twins out of LSU (2013). He made his major league debut with the Twins back on June 8th of this season, throwing two scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers. He would make one more apperance, 1.2 scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners, before being optioned back to Triple-A and finding his way to the Injured List with a groin strain.

In total, Eades gave up no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across 3.2 big league innings.

Appearing in 29 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, Eades is 4-3 with a 5.51 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. While the high ERA may be a slight turnoff, his FIP is nearly two runs lower at 3.88. He has 63 strikeouts in 50 innings of work, coming out to a near career-high of 11.19 K/9 IP.

The news is unfortunate for Jimmy Yacabonis, a pitcher many had high hopes for as he came up through the organization. Since his dominant 2017 campaign in Norfolk, Yacabonis has been up and down, finding himself in Baltimore one week and in Norfolk the next for the last two years. The Orioles tried him as a starter, a reliever, and opener, but to no avail.

Since going 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA, 0.95 WHP, .144 batting average against, and allowing no home runs in 61 innings of work in Triple-A, Yacabonis has been unable to find his footing, despite his powerful fastball and electric slider.

In parts of three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Yacabonis compiled a 3-4 record, 5.75 ERA, and 1.62 WHIP. Making 55 appearances (11 starts), he managed just 74 strikeouts while walking 56 and giving up 19 home runs in 101.2 total innings.

Best of luck to Jimmy Yacabonis, wherever his journey takes him (just not against the Orioles).