SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles made offseason headlines with several free agent moves, mostly involving their own players. Nearly overlooked in all the reshuffling has been the December acquisition of slugger Mark Trumbo.
Trumbo was picked up from Seattle for catcher Steve Clevenger, and he’s joining a lineup that already includes Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Manny Machado.
The 30-year-old Trumbo hit 22 home runs with 64 RBIs and a .262 average with the Mariners and Arizona. From 2011-13, Trumbo averaged more than 30 homers and 90 RBIs with the Los Angeles Angels.
“I guess any time you have a lineup that stretches that deep, it creates real headaches for opposing pitchers,” Trumbo said. “I’ve talked to a few guys around the game, especially a few guys who play in the AL East, and I think already they say this team already is one of the toughest, if not the toughest to face.”
Trumbo’s teammates are impressed. Jones has taken batting practice with him, and can’t wait to be in the same lineup.
“I’m excited to see him hit in our ballpark. He can mishit the ball and hit it” out, Jones said.
Trumbo has been in some strong lineups. In 2012 and 2013, he had Albert Pujols and Mike Trout as teammates with the Angels.
“It’s one thing to be good hitters. It’s another to have a constant threat to put balls in the seats up and down your lineup,” Trumbo said. “You really have to tiptoe facing a team as deep as this one.”
Trumbo watched as Baltimore added players and was especially intrigued by last week’s signing of free agent pitcher Yovani Gallardo.
“The addition of Yovani is huge. I faced him quite a bit the last couple of years and know firsthand how good he is and what he brings to the table,” Trumbo said. “I think me and everyone else in here are probably extremely excited to have somebody like that on board.”
As accomplished as Trumbo has been statistically, he has yet to play in the postseason - and he hopes that drought ends in 2016.
From a personal standpoint, I’m excited to be part of something that seems to be going in the right direction. Not that this team wasn’t already a quality team, but it seems like when you see a lot of moves happening and a lot of pieces come into play, it shows a lot of commitment from ownership and management that everyone’s on board to win and win now,” Trumbo said.
NOTES: RHP Chris Tillman was scratched from Sunday’s intrasquad game with a hip flexor. Tillman said he doesn’t think it’s serious. . Gallardo hasn’t been scheduled for a Grapefruit League start. He’ll throw his second bullpen session Tuesday. . The Orioles open their Grapefruit League schedule on Tuesday at Atlanta. . RHP Mike Wright will start against the Braves. He’ll be followed by RHP Tyler Wilson. . RHP Williams Perez starts for Atlanta.
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