Orioles trade Andino, add Schoop and Belfiore to 40-man

The Orioles have traded infielder Robert Andino to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Trayvon Robinson, giving the club another option in left field while thinning out their surplus at second base. Also, the Orioles added infielder Jonathan Schoop and left-hander Mike Belfiore to their 40-man roster, protecting both players in the Rule 5 draft, which will be held Dec. 6 at the Winter Meetings in Nashville. They outrighted pitcher Oliver Drake, a 43rd-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the Naval Academy, to Triple-A Norfolk. Andino, 28, appeared in 360 games for the Orioles over the past four seasons, batting .239/.302/.326 with 16 homers and 80 RBIs. He hit .211 with a career-high seven home runs and 28 RBIs this year while again getting most of the starts at second base with Brian Roberts on the disabled list. Andino was acquired from the Florida Marlins prior to the start of the 2009 season in exchange for pitcher Hayden Penn. The Orioles were expected to non-tender him by the Nov. 30 deadline. Fans in Baltimore will always remember Andino for his walk-off single to beat the Red Sox in the final game of the 2011 season - and how he disappeared beneath a pile of teammates in the infield dirt. Robinson, 25, batted .215/.272/.330 in 90 major league games over the past two seasons. The switch-hitter appeared in 46 games (39 starts) in left field for Seattle in 2012. Robinson hit 73 home runs and stole 169 bases in 754 games over eight minor league seasons after being chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. He was traded to the Mariners on July 31, 2011 as part of a three-team deal that sent former Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard to the Boston Red Sox. Robinson and Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson were roommates in the Dodgers' system. "Robinson has good speed and plays good defense in the outfield, particularly in left field, and he has some pop in his bat," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "He's capable of stealing bases. He gives us another option in the outfield. And we had some surplus in the infield with some capable infielders. When we claimed (Alexi) Casilla, we just had some surplus there." Like Andino, Robinson is out of minor league options and would have to pass through waivers before being sent down. "The trade of an infielder allowed us to address a need we had in the outfield," Duquette said. "This kid's got good speed and some power. If he can make a little bit more consistent contact in the big leagues, he's got a chance to establish himself as a solid player. "He'll have a chance to make the team in the spring. He gives us another outfielder. We needed another one with (Endy) Chavez and (Nate) McLouth gone. The pickup of Casilla allowed us to trade an infielder to address a need." Duquette said the club is still attempting to re-sign McLouth, who filed for free agency after the World Series. "McLouth is a possibility, but with the addition of Trayvon Robinson, we have a young outfielder, 25 years old, who may be able to help us as an extra outfielder," Duquette said. "And if he learns to make better contact, he could be a solid player." The Mariners issued a press release on the trade that included the following statement from general manager Jack Zduriencik: "The addition of Robert Andino gives us some experienced infield depth with a player who has played multiple positions. With Robert having major league and playoff experience and still relatively young, we thought that it made sense to make this trade and let him come in and compete." The Orioles had some luck when acquiring another Mariners outfielder, Adam Jones. We'll see how this one turns out. Today's moves leave the Orioles with a full 40-man roster. No other players from within the organization can be added before the Rule 5 draft. Schoop, 21, batted .245/.324/.386 in 124 games for Double-A Bowie in 2012. He was the Orioles' minor league Player of the Year in 2011. Following the 2012 season, Schoop batted .270/.446/.429 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 21 games in the Arizona Fall League and was selected to play in the league's Rising Stars Game. Schoop was also a mid-season Eastern League All-Star with Bowie in 2012. Belfiore, 24, was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 11, 2012 as the player to be named later in the Josh Bell trade on April 21. Belfiore was 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 28 relief appearances for Bowie and also pitched in the Arizona Fall League, where he went 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in 12 outings. He also was chosen to play in the Rising Stars Game. Belfiore was selected by the Diamondbacks in the first round (45th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Boston College. "Schoop is a solid infielder and he did well in the Eastern League and he made the All-Star team in the Arizona Fall League," Duquette said. "He's got a chance with the bat. He's only 21 years old. "Belfiore is very tough on left-handers right now. He's got a chance to develop into a major league pitcher." Schoop is a natural shortstop who's also been playing second and third base. "Like Earl Weaver said, sign as many shortstops as you can and worry where to play them once they get to the big leagues," Duquette said. "He's versatile and very capable at all three positions." Drake, 25, appeared in three games for Bowie, going 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA. He missed most of 2012 after having right shoulder surgery.