Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles have completed a trade for Pirates outfielder Travis Snider. Pittsburgh’s return is a player to be named later and 21-year-old pitching prospect Stephen Tarpley.
The O’s lost Nelson Cruz this offseason to the Mariners and Nick Markakis to the Braves, so they’ve been desperately looking for an outfielder, courting free agents like Colby Rasmus, Norichika Aoki, and even Ichiro Suzuki. Ultimately the addition came via trade, and it could be a good one.
Snider had a very strong second half for Pittsburgh in 2014 and carries some upside at age 26. He was expendable for the Bucs because stud prospect Gregory Polanco is due to take over the right field gig.
This is a return to the AL East for Snider, who was drafted 14th overall by the Blue Jays in 2006. He batted just .248 with a .306 on-base percentage in 242 games with Toronto between 2008-2012 but slashed .288/.356/.524 over his final 60 games with the Pirates last year.
The O’s will hope he proves to be a legitimate late-bloomer.