Thome to Orioles

[davell]

Philly gets Kyle Simon and Gabriel Lino. Sucks because that's more than I figured Soriano would bring and this takes out the team that probably showed the most interest. Simon is decent, Lino's a guy you can dream big on. Both will easily fit inside Philly's top 20.

[Bote McBoteface]

I love Jim Thome. This sucks, though, because I really thought we'd be able to dump Soriano on the Os.

[Sammy Sofa]

I had no idea that Soriano to the Orioles had any traction beyond WSR-style pontificating. This is more of what I was expecting them to do.

[biittner77]

I had no idea that Soriano to the Orioles had any traction beyond WSR-style pontificating. This is more of what I was expecting them to do.

 

FWIW, I hadn't heard any buzz at all from any O's fans around here. People around here still tend to think about Soriano as that guy that had that great season for the Nats way back when and haven't been paying attention to the last years years as a Cub. So maybe people thought it would happen because management wouldn't have to sell the idea to the fan base.

[toonsterwu]

I think it's a smart trade for both parties. I know some O's fans feel like they gave up too much. Lino's like ... a raw Welington Castillo. Simon, though, is more of a Randy Wells case in a best case, IMO. Their offense was struggling, and Thome upgrades it by allowing some of their DH options to cover other holes in the field (granted, hurts their defense, but their offense needs the boost), and with Markakis back soon, that could really help them. At the cost of a far away catcher dream and an "eh" pitcher, I think it's worth it when they are in the race.

 

I too wondered about Soriano and the Orioles, more because he could slide into LF and allow them to keep Chris Davis at DH and Mark Reynolds at first, but I imagine the years left was as big an issue here. I also wonder if the fact that Wieters struggles as a lefty played a role (getting Thome gives them a lefty bat to stick in the middle with Jones/Wieters). That said, there's a slim positive to things, from a Cubs perspective. If getting Thome helps them stay in the race, that could make them more inclined to improve their team in mid-late July. They could still use another bat, but more than anything, they need another arm. Maybe someone internally steps up, but with Chen going through some summer struggles, their rotation is a big question mark right now. I don't think they have enough chips to make a legitimate Garza trade without Bundy or Machado, but having another bidder in there can only help us.

[Bote McBoteface]

I had no idea that Soriano to the Orioles had any traction beyond WSR-style pontificating. This is more of what I was expecting them to do.

 

I don't know that it ever did. My though process was something like: "It's gonna take a dumb, cheap-ass team to take Soriano. Hey, the Orioles are a dumb, cheap-ass team! YAY!"