BALTIMORE -- Although many thought the Orioles’ next move would be the acquisition of a pitcher, it turns out president of baseball operations Mike Elias wasn’t done fortifying the position-player side of his club’s roster.
On Thursday, Baltimore acquired utility infielder/outfielder Blaze Alexander in a trade with Arizona, which received right-hander Kade Strowd and a pair of Minor League players (right-hander Wellington Aracena and infielder José Mejía).
TRADE DETAILS
Orioles get: INF/OF Blaze Alexander
D-backs get: RHP Kade Strowd, RHP Wellington Aracena (O’s No. 26 prospect per MLB Pipeline), INF José Mejía
The 26-year-old Alexander is a former top prospect who has played 135 big league games over the past two seasons. The right-handed hitter batted .230 with 12 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 28 RBIs and a .706 OPS over 74 games for Arizona last year while playing third base (49 starts), second base (14), left field (four appearances) and center field (three starts).
Alexander is also capable of playing shortstop, which he did 20 times during the 2024 season.
Baltimore already had a loaded position-player group after previously signing first baseman Pete Alonso (five years, $155 million) and veteran center fielder Leody Taveras (one year, $2 million) and acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward in a trade with the Angels. The competition for the final bench spot was expected to include infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson, infielder Coby Mayo and outfielder Heston Kjerstad, among others.
So, why the trade for Alexander?
The Orioles didn’t have nearly as much depth in the infield as they did at other positions. Jackson can play right field, second and third, but the 25-year-old isn’t considered a plus defender at any of those spots, lauded more for his offensive skills. Meanwhile, Mayo last year moved from third to first, where Baltimore now has Alonso and Ryan Mountcastle.
The only strong infield defender who had a chance to break camp with the O’s was non-roster invitee Luis Vázquez. But the 26-year-old didn’t offer much offensive upside, as he’s hit .145 with a .404 OPS in 43 MLB games over the past two seasons.
Alexander, who is out of Minor League options, can back up every spot in the infield and provides additional outfield depth, if needed. The Orioles’ starting infield is set to feature second baseman Jackson Holliday, shortstop Gunnar Henderson and third baseman Jordan Westburg, and Alexander can back up each of them, should he make the 26-man roster.
Alexander ranked in the 70th percentile of fielders in 2025 with +1 OAA (outs above average) and in the 86th percentile of sprint speed at 28.8 feet per second (30 ft/sec is considered elite). His ability to play center field could be a nice complement to left-handed-hitting Colton Cowser and switch-hitter Leody Taveras as well.
However, Baltimore’s relief depth took a hit in the process. Strowd, 28, had an impressive debut stint in the big leagues last season, recording a 1.71 ERA in 26 1/3 innings over 25 appearances. The hard-throwing righty was widely expected to make the O’s 26-man roster this year, though the competition for bullpen spots will be heated in camp.
The Orioles remain in the market for pitching, though -- both starters and relievers -- so this may not be the final move made by Elias prior to the start of Spring Training (or at least not before Opening Day on March 26). Baltimore’s pitchers and catchers are set to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday.
Aracena, 21, was acquired from the Mets in the trade that sent left-hander Gregory Soto to New York last July 25 ahead of the Trade Deadline. The Dominican right-hander recorded a 2.35 ERA in five starts for High-A Aberdeen last season.
Mejía, 20, was signed out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023. After spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, he made his stateside debut last year, hitting .274 with an .829 OPS over 47 games in the Florida Complex League. He also went 1-for-5 (.200) in a pair of games at High-A.