What do centerfielder Adam Jones and first baseman Chris Davis have in common?
All-Star starters? Yes.
Insane home run power? You bet.
But what else?
These Oriole superstars were both acquired in trades with other teams. But which trade has worked out better for the Orioles?
Adam Jones Trade
In February of 2008, starting pitcher Erik Bedard was coming off of a season where he went 13-5 with 221 strikeouts and finished fifth in the A.L. Cy Young voting. It all went downhill from there though, as Bedard showed no interest in returning to Charm City and was expected to be traded in the off-season.
The Orioles put together a trade that would ship Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for a young outfielder named Adam Jones, relief pitcher George Sherrill, and minor league pitchers Kam Mickolio, Chris Tillman, and Tony Butler.
Looking back, this could go down as one of the most lopsided trades in Oriole history, with three of the five players the Orioles received having been named All-Stars during their tenure (George Sherrill 2008, Chris Tillman 2013, Adam Jones 2009, 2012, 2013).
This was a great trade for the Orioles because they got rid of a cancer in the clubhouse and received their current team leader in Jones. They knew Bedard was unhappy and would not be coming back and they got what they could for him.
A starter since day 1, Jones has been the face of the franchise. His energy on the field and in the clubhouse has been a huge reason the Orioles have made such a big turnaround in these last few seasons.
But it’s not just a great fielder and hitter they received in the trade; the Orioles also landed an All-Star pitcher.
In the last two years, Chris Tillman has been one of the most consistent Oriole pitchers. After going a combined 7-15 in his first three years, Tillman has gone 20-6 in the last season and a half. Not too shabby for a guy who was just thrown into the trade.
To sum up the Mariners trade, the Orioles received an All-Star closer (who has since been traded), a gold glove-winning, bubble-blowing, home run-hitting, face-of-the-franchise center fielder, and a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. All for a pitcher who can’t stay healthy and is on his third team since being traded.
Chris Davis Trade
In July of 2011, the Orioles traded fan favorite Koji Uehara and $2 million to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Tommy Hunter and first baseman Chris Davis. This trade couldn’t have worked out any better for the Orioles.
Hunter had a rough start to his Oriole career, giving up 43 home runs in his first season and a half with the Orioles, earning the nickname “Home Run Hunter.” That name has since gone by the wayside as Hunter transformed himself from a starter throwing in the mid-90s, to a late inning set up man throwing close to 100 MPH. The move to the bullpen has been huge for the Orioles and has given them one of the most lethal weapons in the league.
Davis’ trade to Baltimore has given them one of the most feared hitters in the game today. As a young player in Texas, Davis had trouble finding his way onto the field. And when he did find the field, he lived by the slogan “Go Big or Go Home.” During his four years with Texas, he hit 42 HRs and struck out 302 times. In comparison, in a little over 2.5 years in Baltimore, he has hit 72 HRs and has 318 Ks.
Davis’ addition changed the Baltimore lineup with his power and he has been a great addition to the team.
Both trades brought the Orioles great players and made them a much better team. I personally think that the Jones trade has worked out better for the Orioles because of the All-Stars it brought to the team and the player it got rid of.
Don’t get me wrong; I love watching Crush and Big Game Hunter play, but I think the way Tillman has been pitching the last few seasons pushes that trade to the best out of the two.
Which trade do you think was the better trade?
3 Responses
I had a chance to drive Mr. McPhail home one day during his last season here when it was obvious he wasn’t coming back and I told him how happy I was with his trades and that others and myself were sad to see him go. I told him that one day we’ll see the fruits of his labor and that I believed in what he did for the franchise. I’m so happy that it has come to fruition. 2 players traded, 4 all-stars in return. Well done McPhail, well done indeed sir! Go O’s.
P.S. I’m also proud of our tiny group of Oriole fans shouting the “Oooh” during the anthem at the ASG.
I too heard the “Oooh”! 🙂
Sherrill was a de facto closer on some bad O’s teams and when he was traded to LA, netted Steve Johnson. If Johnson amounts to anything that’s even more gravy from the Bedard trade.