The Orioles added three players in the hours leading up to Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres, all of whom fill areas of need for the major league roster.
Baltimore traded Austin Hays, one of the last remaining players to experience the Orioles’ rebuild, to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed reliever Seranthony DomÍnguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Then, they bolstered the starting rotation by acquiring right-hander Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor leaguers.
The hope is Domínguez, Pache and Eflin aid the Orioles’ push for their second consecutive division crown. Here’s what to know about Baltimore’s newest acquisitions and how they can help in October and beyond.
Domínguez has had an up-and-down season
Domínguez’s season has had a similar arc to former teammate and current Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel’s. Domínguez began the season in a high-leverage, late-inning role for the Phillies but was removed from that after a difficult April. He later returned to that spot after a stretch of dominant outings, but is now back in his early-season funk.
The 29-year-old right-hander posted a 9.58 ERA in 12 appearances in April. He then recorded a 1.09 ERA across 19 games in May and June. In July, that mark is 6.48.
Under that rollercoaster is a much better xERA — a pitcher’s expected earned run average based on the quality of the contact they allow. According to Baseball Savant, Domínguez has a 3.25 xERA compared with his actual number of 4.75. That could suggest he’s due for positive regression over the next couple of months, especially if the Orioles can pinpoint what made him so dominant.
He brings playoff experience to Baltimore’s bullpen
The right-hander excelled for the Phillies over the past two postseasons. He pitched in 15 games across Philadelphia’s last two playoff runs and gave up just two earned runs while striking out 25 batters and walking just four.
Outside of Kimbrel, Domínguez’s former teammate in Philadelphia, Baltimore’s bullpen largely lacks that coveted experience.
“He’s pitched in high-level moments in postseasons and was a big part of their World Series team a couple years ago,” Hyde said before Friday’s game. “We saw earlier this year, it’s an electric fastball and a really good slider.”
He’s armed with elite velocity and stuff
Domínguez primarily throws a fastball and slider, and both rank among the fastest in baseball. His average four-seamer is 97.5 mph and his slider is 88.4, the 17th and 25th fastest in the majors, respectively.
That’s translated to a 26% strikeout rate this season, third best among Orioles relievers. The right-hander also has a 90th percentile hard-hit rate and average exit velocity, according to Baseball Savant, giving Baltimore a late-inning weapon who’s one of the best at inducing soft contact.
Hyde hopes to use him in the late innings
Outside of a few sporadic outings, Kimbrel has been a mostly reliable closer. Yennier Cano has similarly been dependable.
But the Orioles bullpen desperately needed another late-inning option. Hyde has tried to thrust others into high-leverage roles, largely unsuccessfully. Domínguez has experience there.
“He’s had his up and down moments this season but he’s somebody that we’re hoping can fit in in the back of our bullpen,” Hyde said.
Pache is out of minor league options
If the Orioles want to ensure they keep Pache long term, they won’t be able to send him to the minor leagues.
The outfielder is out of options, meaning the team would have to pass him through waivers before demoting him. That could bode well for Pache’s chances of sticking around over the final two months of the regular season.
He brings valuable speed and defense … but that’s about it
Pache, who primarily plays center field but has spent time at all three outfield spots, has been one of MLB’s premier defenders throughout his young career. His arm strength ranks in the 91st percentile, according to Baseball Savant. Although he hasn’t played enough to qualify for the outs above average leaderboard, his four outs above average is second on his new team behind only Colton Cowser. Pache also comes with 79th percentile sprint speed.
“Pache is an elite defender. One of the best outfielders defensively,” Hyde said. “We’ve seen him quite a bit. He can go play the outfield, go play three spots. So he covers us there in the outfield.”
But the 25-year-old is hitting just .202 with a .557 OPS this season. In 213 career major league games with three teams, he’s a .179 hitter with just six home runs.
Pache wasn’t acquired for his offense. Although he is the Orioles’ lone right-handed hitting outfielder with Hays gone, he’ll rarely be asked to go to the plate in pivotal moments and instead be limited to a defensive replacement and pinch runner role, which became more of a necessity after Jorge Mateo dislocated his elbow this week.
Eflin is under team control for next season
Eflin signed a three-year, $40 million contract before the 2023 season, so he’s in line to stick around for longer than just 2024. Corbin Burnes’ impending free agency and Kyle Bradish and John Means’ uncertainty meant the Orioles were in line to enter next season with only Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer as experienced and reliable rotation options.
Eflin is set to make $18 million next season, which as of now would make him the highest paid player on the team.
He’s a strike thrower and innings eater
The right-hander isn’t scared to attack hitters. Just over 54% of his pitches find the strike zone. For comparison, Burnes’ rate is 47.2%. Eflin boasts an elite 2.8% walk rate this season, second best in MLB and third best by any pitcher over the past seven seasons.
He does so with a six-pitch repertoire, which includes one of the league’s best sinkers. And because he limits walks, Eflin consistently pitches deep into games. He’s failed to go more than five innings in just one of his 19 starts this season, which will prove valuable for a rotation that’s relied so much on two arms.
He’s coming off a career year
Eflin’s 2023 campaign was the right-hander’s best of his nine-year career. He pitched a career-high 177 2/3 innings, posted a career-best 3.50 ERA and finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting.
He’s yet to rekindle that success this season, but the 30-year-old is still an upgrade over the Orioles’ current options and addresses perhaps the team’s biggest long-term need.
The Orioles didn’t lose any of their top prospects in either trade
To get Eflin, Baltimore sent right-hander Jackson Baumeister, infielder Mac Horvath and outfielder Matthew Etzel to Tampa Bay, all picked in the 2023 draft. None of the three ranked among the team’s top 12 prospects, according to Baseball America.
Horvath was the highest ranked of the trio and hit .232 with a .745 OPS in 71 games for High-A Aberdeen this season. Baumeister had a 3.06 ERA in 18 starts for the IronBirds. Etzel, a 10th-round pick, was the club’s only selection from last year’s draft to reach Double-A Bowie so far.
In keeping their top prospects, the Orioles maintain flexibility to make a larger splash with just a few days to go until Tuesday’s deadline.