The Orioles have acquired Valencia from the Red Sox for cash, and promptly designated Joe Mahoney.

Valencia hit just .188/.199/.299 for Boston in 160 PA last year but hit over .300 as recently as 2010 in Minnesota.

He can play 3B... maybe this prompts a move of Hardy? Time will tell.

https://twitter.com/...867221745405952

The Orioles have acquired Valencia from the Red Sox for cash, and promptly designated Joe Mahoney.

Valencia hit just .188/.199/.299 for Boston in 160 PA last year but hit over .300 as recently as 2010 in Minnesota.

He can play 3B... maybe this prompts a move of Hardy? Time will tell.

I hope we trade hardy....I hope this isn't their solution if he is dealt.

Still, I think this is a worthwhile pickup for AAA depth.

Valencia's 3B numbers:

http://www.fangraphs...ion=3B#fielding

I hope we trade hardy....I hope this isn't their solution if he is dealt.

Still, I think this is a worthwhile pickup for AAA depth.

I'd agree with that. If that's the plan though, why give up the 40-man spot? He was going to be non-tendered anyway...

I think this is just DD sticking to his philosophy of upgrading the talent on the 40 man when he sees a chance, no matter how insignificant it looks. Valencia has had some success in the majors and in AAA and is just better than Mahoney. I assume he has options left.

I don't see this as any reason for them to trade Hardy.

Valencia has essentially become a one trick pony with the bat. He can hit some HR, but can't hit RHP and even struggled last year against LHP. He's a zero risk pickup, that maybe can platoon with Betemit or come off the bench. Otherwise, I wouldn't look much into this. If anything, he has been exposed so much that his value is almost miniscule. Boston wouldn't have given him up for just cash if that wasn't the case.

I don't see this as any reason for them to trade Hardy.

Valencia has essentially become a one trick pony with the bat. He can hit some HR, but can't hit RHP and even struggled last year against LHP. He's a zero risk pickup, that maybe can platoon with Betemit or come off the bench. Otherwise, I wouldn't look much into this. If anything, he has been exposed so much that his value is almost miniscule. Boston wouldn't have given him up for just cash if that wasn't the case.

You're talking about the team that started Nate McLouth in the playoffs. The guy was DFA'd by the Pirates and replaced by Matt Hague.

You're talking about the team that started Nate McLouth in the playoffs. The guy was DFA'd by the Pirates and replaced by Matt Hague.

It's not really a good idea to expect lightning in a bottle more than once or twice.


On Mahoney, I said on twitter that Mahoney just never developed the power necessary for a 1B at the MLB level. Just never saw it fruition at AA or AAA. I never was really high on him, so can't say that I really care much about him getting DFA'd.

I like this move. Valencia could simply be a late bloomer and put together a decent season.

when I say decent I mean a line somewhere around .250/.320/.430

He's been a below average third baseman for two straight seasons though.

It's not really a good idea to expect lightning in a bottle more than once or twice.


On Mahoney, I said on twitter that Mahoney just never developed the power necessary for a 1B at the MLB level. Just never saw it fruition at AA or AAA. I never was really high on him, so can't say that I really care much about him getting DFA'd.

I guess here's my problem. Duquette has a history of just that: expecting lightning in a bottle more than once or twice. He resigned Trot Nixon to a long-term deal after a McLouth-esque season and continues to make these types of moves.

I'm ok with these types of moves if the guys have to prove themselves in the minors and don't take up a 40-man spot. Valencia was going to be non-tendered, so Duquette must have had a reason for trading for him and keeping him on the 40-man. Otherwise he could have just signed him as a FA to a minor league deal.

I think this is just DD sticking to his philosophy of upgrading the talent on the 40 man when he sees a chance, no matter how insignificant it looks. Valencia has had some success in the majors and in AAA and is just better than Mahoney. I assume he has options left.

I think RZ has it right.

This is just simply a way of DD saying, I feel this guy is an upgrade over what we have and we don't really have much at third base in case of injury.

I do find it odd that we put him on the 40 man though.

Minor league depth, that's all. Someone to play 3B in an emergency in case either Hardy or Machado get hurt. Casilla is more of a middle infielder than a corner infielder, so with him instead of Andino we need someone at AAA waiting in the wings to play 3B if we get stuck.

This has nothing to do with a Hardy trade, IMO.

I guess here's my problem. Duquette has a history of just that: expecting lightning in a bottle more than once or twice. He resigned Trot Nixon to a long-term deal after a McLouth-esque season and continues to make these types of moves.

I'm ok with these types of moves if the guys have to prove themselves in the minors and don't take up a 40-man spot. Valencia was going to be non-tendered, so Duquette must have had a reason for trading for him and keeping him on the 40-man. Otherwise he could have just signed him as a FA to a minor league deal.

Sure, it's worth a shot. Like I said, it's zero risk. I just wouldn't expect much.
Trot Nixon and Nate McLouth had at least some prolonged success in the MLB. Valencia essentially had one solid half-year and a bad second and third year.

And like a few have said, there really isn't much depth at 3B within the system. If he can play at AAA, great. It's just a red flag when a team with needs at the corner give him away. All teams make these type of moves, not just Dan Duquette. Sure he has found some lightning in the bottle, but it's not going to happen every time.

I'm ok with the acquisition though. I doubt Mahoney is going anywhere anyways.

Valencia will be a nice guy to give Machado a day off every once in a while and as a guy to put in the lineup instead of Davis at first when we face a tough lefty.

Of course, I'm kind of hoping SG is right and this could signal a trade of Hardy. A Flaherty/Valencia platoon at third would likely be pretty productive.

How about Hardy, Britton, Tillman, Strop and Schoop for Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer? Feel free to throw in another piece or two from the O's.

Valencia will be a nice guy to give Machado a day off every once in a while and as a guy to put in the lineup instead of Davis at first when we face a tough lefty.

Of course, I'm kind of hoping SG is right and this could signal a trade of Hardy. A Flaherty/Valencia platoon at third would likely be pretty productive.

How about Hardy, Britton, Tillman, Strop and Schoop for Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer? Feel free to throw in another piece or two from the O's.

Certainly makes sense for us to go after Upton, offering a combo of young pitching, prospects and Hardy.

With the Orioles saying they want a LFer, I just wonder if they have quietly looked into Upton?

Certainly makes sense for us to go after Upton, offering a combo of young pitching, prospects and Hardy.

With the Orioles saying they want a LFer, I just wonder if they have quietly looked into Upton?

Yes. I think Machado at SS with a Flaherty/Valencia platoon at third base would provide slightly less defense, but a huge bump up in OPS for the left side of the infield.

Valencia will be a nice guy to give Machado a day off every once in a while and as a guy to put in the lineup instead of Davis at first when we face a tough lefty.

Of course, I'm kind of hoping SG is right and this could signal a trade of Hardy. A Flaherty/Valencia platoon at third would likely be pretty productive.

How about Hardy, Britton, Tillman, Strop and Schoop for Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer? Feel free to throw in another piece or two from the O's.

This feels close-ish to me, but I would rather have Bradley to be honest. I'm sure he'd cost a little more but I think he has big time upside.

This feels close-ish to me, but I would rather have Bradley to be honest. I'm sure he'd cost a little more but I think he has big time upside.

And there are no character/attitude issues (rumored) with Bradley.

One thing about the #Orioles acquisition of Danny Valencia (for cash from Bos). he has options remaining. So he could b Norfolk's 3Bman

Duquette on Valencia: "His serious strength is he's very good hitter vs LH pitching with above average on-base capabilities & average power

"At his age he should be able to regain the form that made him one of top vote getters for Rookie of the Year a few years ago." - Duquette