Orioles trade Mancini to Astros for multiple pitchers

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles made their first deadline trade today and it involves first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini, who’s going to the Astros in exchange for multiple pitching prospects, according to an industry source.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is dealing with his former organization, and the cost is the longest tenured player in the Orioles’ clubhouse and a fan favorite who didn't want to leave but understood the business.

Mancini hit an inside-the-park home run Thursday in his final at-bat as an Oriole at Camden Yards. Fans called him back onto the field, as if knowing he’d be gone by the next homestand.

The Orioles drafted Mancini in the eighth round in 2013 out of the University of Notre Dame. He reached the majors three years later and leaves the organization with a career .270/.334/.463 line in 701 games. He had 137 doubles, 11 triples, 117 home runs and 350 RBIs in 2,933 plate appearances.

Mancini emerged as the clubhouse leader and an inspiration after beating Stage 3 colon cancer, which was diagnosed in March 2020. He returned in 2021, finished as runner-up in the All-Star Home Run Derby, and won three Comeback Player of the Year awards.

Though the Orioles are three games back for the last wild card, they figured to trade some veterans if receiving the right offers. Mancini is heading to free agency despite the mutual option in his contract for 2023, making him the most likely to go.

The Astros are in Baltimore Sept. 22-25, giving fans another chance to honor Mancini. The Orioles are in Houston Aug. 26-28.

Mancini walked to the bullpen at Globe Life Park to hug Orioles personnel.

The Athletic first reported that Mancini was traded to the Astros.

Much more to come on the trade.

The Orioles haven’t posted their lineup.

Anthony Santander has an 11-game hitting streak. He singled twice yesterday and belted a game-tying home run in the eighth inning. His 19 home runs are one more than his 2021 total.

Santander is batting .395 17-for-43 (.395) during the streak, with four home runs and 10 RBIs. 

Spenser Watkins faced the Rangers on July 6 and held them to one run in a career-high 6 2/3 innings.

The rotation hasn’t produced a quality start in 14 consecutive games.

Yesterday marked the 15^th time that the Orioles have surrendered the go-ahead run in the eighth inning or later. They’ve struck out 10 or more times in four of their last five games.  

The Orioles are 51-51 and have gone 14-14-4 in series. They’re three games back for the final wild card spot.

Shortstop Carter Young, drafted in the 17^th round out of Vanderbilt, signed with the Orioles today. Young transferred to Louisiana State University and was expected to stay in school, so the news comes as a surprise.

Young signed for $1.325 million, as first reported by MLB.com’s Jim Callis, but only $1.2 million counts against the pool.

Double-A Bowie infielder Joey Ortiz was named the Eastern League’s Player of the Week after batting .519 with four doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.536 OPS.

Outfielders Shayne Fontana and John Rhodes and pitcher Gregori Vasquez were promoted from Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk.

Right-hander Jon Gray, the third-overall pick by the Rockies in 2013 out of the University of Oklahoma, is 7-5 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.137 WHIP in 18 starts in his first season with the Rangers. He’s struck out 113 batters over 102 innings.

Gray has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 starts. He’s started once against the Orioles in his career and held them to one run in seven innings.

The Orioles won two of three in Arlington last summer. Their last three-game sweep there came in 2013.

They swept Texas in a three-game series last month in Baltimore, each game decided by one run.

For the Rangers
Marcus Semien SS
Corey Seager DH
Jonah Heim C
Nathaniel Lowe 1B
Adolis García RF
Leody Taveras CF
Kole Calhoun LF
Ezequiel Durán 2B
Josh H. Smith 3B

Jon Gray RHP

Outfielder Austin Hays teamed up with the Orioles and Bold.org to create “The Austin Hays Scholarship.”

The scholarship is created for Maryland students who need financial support to pursue higher education. The winner will be announced at an Orioles game and be awarded $20,000 toward his or her education.

“The state of Maryland, through the Orioles and its fans, has given so much to me and my family,” Hays said in a statement. “So much so, that we wanted to make an impact on the lives of some of the young students within Maryland’s community. The Austin Hays scholarship allows us to do so. With the help of the Orioles and Bold.org, we are looking forward to helping a young student access a quality education.”

Current high school or college students living in Maryland may apply for the Austin Hays Scholarship by visiting www.bold.org/scholarships/austinhays and write a brief essay letting Hays know what dream or goal they hope to achieve and how they plan to make it a reality. Candidates must apply for the scholarship by Aug. 21, 2022.