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.
