When Seattle dealt Mark Trumbo and C.J. Riefenhauser to Baltimore for Steve Clevenger, there was no predicting Trumbo’s sizable impact on the Orioles. Trumbo’s set the league afire in 2016, leading the show with 45 home runs. The Mariners salary dump turned into a best case scenario for Baltimore, as the organization sits in the thick of the AL Wild Card race – largely due to his contributions.
Speaking with Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles general manager Don Duquette admitted he’s been thoroughly impressed with the outfielder.
“He’s an excellent veteran player,” Duquette said. “I really like what he’s done for our team. He’s got some really good personal qualities that add to the ballclub.”
He said he values Trumbo’s ability to drive in runs at an impressive clip.
“His performance in terms of hitting the ball out of the ballpark and driving in runs is certainly worth a significant investment,” Duquette said.
Trumbo is set to become a free agent by season’s end and will likely be chasing a long-term deal.
Trumbo’s biggest strength is his power, which Orioles fans have seen on full display. But, if he’s not hitting home runs, he doesn’t offer much else. He’s a career .250 hitter and sports a .303 OBP in seven seasons – a subpar number without the gaudy home run totals.
How Baltimore proceeds will be fascinating. Duquette likes Trumbo and understands he’s a massive part of the organization’s offense. But, is offering a 30-year-old in the midst of a career year with otherwise uninspiring hitting numbers a good gamble? We’ll see. Nonetheless, Trumbo has positioned himself well in free agency.
