Why Not?

Since updated:

the Phils will get right-hander Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino in return from the O’s. Simon, 21, was a fourth-round selection in 2011. He has a 3.96 ERA in 72 2/3 innings this season at Single-A. Lino, 19, is batting .218/.282/.340 in 56 games — also at the Single-A level.

The deal was actually announced during the game today, with an announcement on the scoreboard.

I like Thome, it'll be nice to see him play regularly.

why did the phillies want to get rid of him?

why did the phillies want to get rid of him?

He can't play the field because of his back, so now that interleague is over, he can only pinch-hit. They didn't think he'd be effective at that role.

When they signed him, they hoped he could play 1B on occasion.

I haven't thought about whether this makes sense for the Orioles or not, but you know what? I honestly can't say I care that much because I LOVE JIM THOME and I'm absolutely delighted that some small part of his career will be spent in Baltimore.

Probably no room for him with Ryan Howard on the way back, he started his rehab assignment this weekend.

I haven't thought about whether this makes sense for the Orioles or not, but you know what? I honestly can't say I care that much because I LOVE JIM THOME and I'm absolutely delighted that some small part of his career will be spent in Baltimore.

Thome will DH against RHP most of the time, Reynolds against LHP. A great platoon, I think.

What #5 said. S(uper)SSS, but he's been a lousy pinch-hitter historically and this season and hasn't found any comfort level with it. As bad as he looked PHing, he looked conversely great DHing.

Smart move for the Os (he's only getting 1.5M this year, I think). Some lottery tickets for the Phils.

Signing Thome was a reasonable gamble for the Phils, hoping to get an occasional start in the field while Howard recuperated. Thome will never start another game at 1B. His back is very iffy.

Signing Thome was a reasonable gamble for the Phils, hoping to get an occasional start in the field while Howard recuperated. Thome will never start another game at 1B. His back is very iffy.

I sort of disagree with this (but not by much.) I don't think it was an expensive gamble, but there was no way Thome was ever going to spend any time in the field. His back has been terrible for a few years now, to the point where he'd need sometimes week-long breaks from DH-ing. Ultimately, they squeezed four games at 1B out of him, which I doubt was their expectation when he first signed.

Also, I feel a little bad for Thome, knowing this is his second consecutive year of being traded midseason to a mirage contender. He says he wants one more shot at the postseason, and he's moved to the Indians and the Orioles. I hope the O's pull it off, but I'm not terribly hopeful.

Great deal for the Orioles. They were incredibly weak at the corner positions, which was only made worse by injuries to Markakis and Reimold. Getting Thome should help their struggling offense, adding some pop to the line-up that will offset their other holes. I don't know if it will be enough to hold off Boston but I'm glad to see that the O's aren't standing pat.

What #5 said. S(uper)SSS, but he's been a lousy pinch-hitter historically and this season and hasn't found any comfort level with it. As bad as he looked PHing, he looked conversely great DHing.

I called it back when the Phillies first signed him. He's lousy against LHP, which makes him susceptible to Loogy's when PH late in the game. His value, such as it is anymore, is in facing RHP, and he will only do that as a starter in the first 6 innings or so.

I hope the O's pull it off, but I'm not terribly hopeful.

If the O's fall far out of it over the next month, I could see him getting dealt again.

WORD UP THOME

Good to see him back on a team where he will get some at bats. I look forward to him passing Sosa very soon.

Oh, and by the way, did anyone catch any of the home runs he hit in interleague -- he hit some real bombs. There is still thunder in that stick.

The Orioles today played a corner infielder in RF, an infielder in LF and a 2B at 3B. It seems to me that they need outfielders much more than they needed another DH.

Looks like Philly may be officially giving up the ghost on the season and going into sell mode. Word is that Hamels and maybe another guy or two are available at the right price.

One of the interesting things to watch in the second half in my mind is whether or not the Orioles can continue to contend for a playoff spot. If I had to guess I'd say "probably not", but only time will tell. It would sure help a lot if they could pick up a decent starting pitcher.

Trading Jim Thome is about as much of an indication of the Phillies giving up as the Red Sox trading Nomar Garciaparra was.

As for Hamels, the rumors have been happening virtually since the beginning of the season, and result from the fact that everyone thinks he's going to go to the West Coast in free agency in a few months. Who else have you heard rumors about?

The way that Hamels is pitching this year, I find it pretty hard to believe that they would even be discussing trading him if they truly felt like they were still in the race, but I'll take your word for it.

ESPN mentioned someone else pretty significant who is also available, and now of course I can't remember who it is, though I'm pretty sure it's another guy who is a free agent after this season.

Victorino is a rising FA hence obvious trade bait. He's not living up to the idea of having a career year in the last year of his contract with his OPS+ of 92.

Yep, Victorino is the other guy they mentioned.

I was mad when he signed with the Phillies. Between his back and his fielding history, this outcome seemed preordained. Most recent fielding: one game at first in 2007, three games at first in 2006.

Great to see him back in the AL to swing the lumber. Go Jim!