Potential Trade Targets: Baltimore Orioles

For the second year in row Baltimore is looking to prove the naysayers wrong by advancing to the playoffs.  Dismissed by many as a fluke last year, the Orioles are looking like legitimate contenders this go round.  First baseman, Chris Davis, is having a breakout MVP age 27 campaign and the team as whole is in the 2nd wildcard spot at 58-47 with a +35 run differential.  While Baltimore has already made trades to add at starter and closer, rumors still have them as a potential landing spot for Norris and/or Bedard.

The Orioles have a top heavy farm system lead by former first round picks Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy.  Former international signees, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jonathan Schoop, are back end top 100 type prospects, but after that the system thins out noticeably.

TOP TRADEABLE PROSPECTS

Eduardo Rodriguez LHP

Rodriguez has made steady improvement since signing for $175,000 out of Venezuela in 2010.  Ranked the 5th best prospect in the system by Baseball America prior to the season, the lefthander currently checks in as seventh best left-handed pitching prospect and  #93 overall in Jonathan Mayo's current top 100.  Rodriguez has a two-seam fastball that sits in the low 90s and a slider and changeup that are inconsistent, but have the potential to be average to plus.  The entire package grades out as someone who has a reasonable upside of a 3/4 starter.  He's in double-A, but is likely at least a year away from breaking into the majors.  The fact that he's left-handed might be attractive to the Astros, as it is, by-far, the biggest weakness in their system.  He's too rich for a Bedard deal, but fits the profile of someone who could headline a Norris deal.

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2010	17	Orioles 1	FRk	3	4	2.33	12	65.2	49	26	17	0	28	62	6.7	0.0	3.8	8.5
2011	18	2 Teams	Rk-A-	1	1	2.22	12	48.2	34	20	12	1	18	50	6.3	0.2	3.3	9.2
2011	18	Orioles	Rk	1	1	1.81	11	44.2	28	17	9	0	17	46	5.6	0.0	3.4	9.3
2011	18	Aberdeen	A-	0	0	6.75	1	4.0	6	3	3	1	1	4	13.5	2.2	2.2	9.0
2012	19	Delmarva	A	5	7	3.70	22	107.0	103	56	44	4	30	73	8.7	0.3	2.5	6.1
2013	20	2 Teams	A+-AA	7	6	3.19	18	107.1	94	47	38	6	37	88	7.9	0.5	3.1	7.4
2013	20	Frederick	A+	6	4	2.85	14	85.1	78	36	27	4	25	66	8.2	0.4	2.6	7.0
2013	20	Bowie	AA	1	2	4.50	4	22.0	16	11	11	2	12	22	6.5	0.8	4.9	9.0
4 Seasons				16	18	3.04	64	328.2	280	149	111	11	113	273	7.7	0.3	3.1	7.5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/28/2013.

Jonathan Schoop 2B/SS

Schoop's been on the prospect radar for few years now.  Originally signed out of Curacao in 2008, Schoop cracked Baseball America's top 100 in 2012 ranking at #82.  Moved off of shortstop in deference to Manny Machado when they both were coming up on the same team, Schoop has held his own as he's been aggressively moved up the system.  His double and triple A slash lines aren't going to turn anyone's heads, but it's important note just how young he's been at each level. While he might be able to play shortstop in the big leagues in a pinch, some think his future home might be at 2nd or 3rd base.  Moving him out of the middle infield might be a better fit defensively, but would put a lot more pressure on his bat. 

Schoop is arguably the 3rd best prospect in the system and could be attractive trade bait to a team that needs a middle infield prospect.  However, with Altuve signing a long term deal at 2nd; Villar getting a shot at shortstop; and Correa, Deshields, and Fontana on the farm, I'm not sure where he would fit in the Astros' plans.  Perhaps if they think the glove and bat will play at 3rd, he could be the type of piece that gets moved for Norris.

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2009	17	Orioles	FRk	284	28	59	7	3	0	35	11	24	39	.239	.320	.291	.612
2010	18	3 Teams	Rk-A+	240	32	62	18	1	5	35	1	20	25	.290	.350	.453	.803
2010	18	Bluefield	Rk	148	16	42	11	1	2	16	1	12	14	.316	.372	.459	.831
2010	18	Orioles	Rk	70	11	15	4	0	3	16	0	7	7	.250	.329	.467	.795
2010	18	Frederick	A+	22	5	5	3	0	0	3	0	1	4	.238	.273	.381	.654
2011	19	2 Teams	A+-A	567	82	148	24	5	13	71	12	42	76	.290	.349	.432	.781
2011	19	Delmarva	A	238	45	67	12	3	8	34	6	20	32	.316	.376	.514	.890
2011	19	Frederick	A+	329	37	81	12	2	5	37	6	22	44	.271	.329	.375	.704
2012	20	Bowie	AA	555	68	119	24	1	14	56	5	50	103	.245	.324	.386	.710
2013	21	3 Teams	AAA-Rk-A-	193	24	51	9	0	8	35	1	16	35	.295	.363	.486	.848
2013	21	Orioles	Rk	32	9	9	2	0	3	9	0	6	6	.360	.469	.800	1.269
2013	21	Aberdeen	A-	15	3	8	1	0	2	8	0	1	1	.571	.600	1.071	1.671
2013	21	Norfolk	AAA	146	12	34	6	0	3	18	1	9	28	.254	.315	.366	.681
5 Seasons				1839	234	439	82	10	40	232	30	152	278	.269	.339	.406	.744
Rk (2 seasons)			Rk	250	36	66	17	1	8	41	1	25	27	.303	.372	.500	.872
A+ (2 seasons)			A+	351	42	86	15	2	5	40	6	23	48	.269	.326	.375	.701
A (1 season)			A	238	45	67	12	3	8	34	6	20	32	.316	.376	.514	.890
AA (1 season)			AA	555	68	119	24	1	14	56	5	50	103	.245	.324	.386	.710
FRk (1 season)			FRk	284	28	59	7	3	0	35	11	24	39	.239	.320	.291	.612
A- (1 season)			A-	15	3	8	1	0	2	8	0	1	1	.571	.600	1.071	1.671
AAA (1 season)			AAA	146	12	34	6	0	3	18	1	9	28	.254	.315	.366	.681

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/28/2013.