Stubbs, Bourn acquired at the deadline
Moves meant to shore up outfield before postseason, Duquette says
On the final day teams can acquire players and still have them eligible for the postseason roster, the Orioles added veteran outfielders Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn on Wednesday.
Stubbs joined the club as a waiver claim from the Texas Rangers, while Bourn was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Short-A Aberdeen outfielder Jason Heinrich, the Orioles’ 2015 fifth-round pick.
After the team announced the addition of Stubbs, executive vice president Dan Duquette said shoring up the outfield defense was the team’s main objective of the waiver trade period.
“We like Stubbs’ addition to the club, and he’ll be joining us on Friday,” Duquette said. “He gives us a good, solid, dependable defensive outfielder. He’s got very good speed, and he’s shown versatility and good capability to play center and left. And he’s also a pretty good base-stealer. It gives us a little more depth. Since we lost Joey Rickard [to a thumb injury July 21], we’ve been looking for another outfielder, particularly one that can play center field and the other outfield positions. We think that adding Stubbs, who’s very athletic — he was drafted high, No. 8 [overall in 2006] out of Texas. He’s got great experience.”
Stubbs was batting .259 with three homeruns, six RBIs and eight steals in 39 games with the Atlanta Braves and Texas this season before the Rangers released him Sunday. He provides cover at all three outfield positions, something the Orioles needed with Rickard out and not much defensive depth in the outfield behind Adam Jones, who has had a hamstring injury for the past week.
As a regular from 2009 to 2014 with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies, Stubbs showed an ability to hit for power and steal bases, but never hit above .289 in a season.
Atwo-time All-Star, most recently in 2012, Bourn, 33, batted .261with a .669OPSwith13steals in18 tries andthree homerunswhileplaying all three outfield positions for the Diamondbacks this season. He was released out of spring training by the Braves, then signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, but was never called up.
Wednesday was the final day players could be acquired via trades if they were passed through or claimed off waivers and still be eligible to play in the postseason.
Stubbs took the 40-man roster spot of left-hander Kyle Lobstein, whomthe Orioles acquired Wednesday afternoon from the Pittsburgh Pirates and subsequently designated for assignment.
Lobstein was acquired for Triple-A left-hander Zach Phillips, and the Orioles designated left-handed reliever Ashur Tolliver for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot for him. Rickard was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. Drew Stubbs Arizona Fall League participants announced: Outfielder DJ Stewart, the Orioles’ top draft pick in 2015, will headline the team’s prospect class participating in this year’s Arizona Fall League, where teams send players for extra work after their season ends.
Stewart and the other Orioles minor leaguers who travel west will play for Peoria. Relievers Tanner Scott, Jimmy Yacabonis and Jesus Liranzo, all at Double-A Bowie, will be joined by catcher Austin Wynns and infielder Adrian Marin. Marin and Scott played in the AFL in 2015. Around the horn: Right-hander Chris Tillman (shoulder bursitis) had a second flat-ground session Wednesday, and manager Buck Showalter said results were “good.” Tillman could throw a bullpen session this weekend. … Jones had a good day working through his hamstring injury, and Showalter said he was a possibility to play Wednesday, though he didn’t. … Left fielder Hyun Soo Kimhit leadoff for the first time in his major league career Wednesday, a move Showalter said was intended to drive up Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez’s pitch count. Kim was 1-for-4… Former Baltimore Sun photographer Walter McCardell, who also worked for the Orioles, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday. He turns 91 today.