Phillies Trade Jim Thome To Orioles For Pair Of Prospects

An article by Craig Lerner

The Baltimore Orioles are reporting that they have acquired veteran slugger Jim Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies for two minor league players; pitcher Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino, both Single-A prospects.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com first reported that both teams were in negotiations for Thome.

Thome, 41, was posted a .242/.338/.516 slash with five homers in 71 plate appearances for the Phillies this season, and it was no secret that he was being shopped by GM Ruben Amaro. Thome, who was serving mostly in a reserve and pinch-hitting role, is expected to step in as the Orioles’ designated hitter.

The Phillies recalled former Mets outfielder Jason Pirdie from Triple-A to take Thome’s spot on the 25 man roster.

MLBTR had this on the two prospects the Phillies received:

Simon, a 21 year old out of the University of Arizona, is 2-8 with a 3.96 ERA and just 49 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched for the Orioles’ Class A affiliate in the Carolina League.

Lino, 19, a catcher from Venezuela, is hitting a lusty .218/.282/.340 for the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Orioles’ low-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.

One thing about Amaro, I gotta give him credit for always being out in front long before most teams make moves at the trade deadline. To pick up a couple of young prospects for a player like Thome who is a shell of his former self, was a pretty slick move in my opinion. This comes a week before Ryan Howard is expected to return from the DL and make his 2012 debut.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

8 Comments + Add Comment

jerseymet July 1, 2012 at 1:26 am

Pridie played well for us. Sorry to see him in Philly.
MetsMan86 July 1, 2012 at 1:54 am

The Mets and Phillies have flipped places from a few years ago. Now they’re the old injured team looking to salvage while we’re the young team succeeding right now and looking forward to more ahead!
Joey D. July 1, 2012 at 11:41 am

Guess Pridie’s suspension is just about up.

Even though I think he would have helped the Mets on the bench, there is no room for those who dope themselves up to get an edge in baseball – from a fringe player like Pridie to an MVP like Braun – not in this era with the wrath and disdain for such actions where one can no longer say everyone does it so there isn’t anything wrong.

Let him do his juicing with Philadelphia.
- srt July 1, 2012 at 12:27 pm
  
  If I’m not mistaken, Pridie’s suspension was from a ‘recreational’ drug, so I’m suspecting pot.
  And that’s probably the last drug you want to use to get an ‘edge’ out on the field.
- Metsie July 1, 2012 at 1:00 pm
  
  SRT is corect it wasn’t a PED it was something else (likely Pot but could be any number of things not performance enhancing)
Joey D. July 1, 2012 at 12:46 pm

Hi SRT,

Yes, I saw the words “recreational drugs” used quite often in the reports but did not take this to infer pot. Obviously not to be compared to Braun and for that, I apologize to Jason. Forgot there are other blood tests and rules.
- srt July 1, 2012 at 12:50 pm
  
  Well, like I said Joey, it’s only my speculation that it’s pot. I guess it depends on what really defines ‘recreational’. I did take it to mean however, it wasn’t steroids or a HGH type drug.
Joey D. July 1, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Well, Metsie,

All I can say is that I hope Jason can face his troubles head on.

Maybe Bill Maher can do something to change the MLB policies on pot.

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