The Orioles didn't make any major deals before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, but they did bring a familiar face back to Baltimore by reacquiring first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce from the Tampa Bay Rays.
They sent minor league catcher Jonah Heim, the team's fourth-round draft pick in 2013 who had been playing at High-A Frederick, to the Rays in the deal.
The acquisition of Pearce _ who played part of the 2012 season and all of the 2013 through 2015 seasons with the Orioles _ gives the club a right-handed power bat that can play a variety of positions. He has played first, second, third and both corner outfield spots in his career. This season, he has only played first, second and third.
It also would allow the Orioles to play Pearce as part of a left-field platoon with Hyun Soo Kim. Pearce is a .273/.356/.504 career hitter against left-handed pitching and hit lefties at an impressive .377/.476/.736 clip in 63 plate appearances this season.
Pearce, 33, was hitting .309/.388/.520 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 60 games with Tampa Bay. He returned to the Rays two weeks ago after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury.
A fan favorite for his blue-collar style and ability to play all around the diamond, Pearce will give the Orioles seven players with double-digit home run totals.
"Steve Pearce is a proven versatile veteran player who gives our club more punch and stronger defense whenever he is in the lineup and a stronger bench when he is not," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said.
Pearce enjoyed his best years with the Orioles. He played a key role with the club's division title team in 2014, when he posted career highs in homers (21), RBIs (49), batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.373) and slugging percentage (.556). Pearce also led the team with 5.9 WAR (wins above replacement) that season.
Pearce's return to the Orioles is interesting because the team never made a play for him this past offseason when he was a free agent, even though he wanted to return. He instead signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal with the Rays.
The Orioles have been playing with a three-man bench, so the addition of Pearce could mean the team goes back to 12 pitchers. The Orioles have had very little outfield depth with a short bench since outfielder Joey Rickard went on the disabled list with a thumb injury.
The 21-year-old Heim was highly regarded by the Orioles for his skills behind the plate and was developing his offensive tools with the Keys. He is a career .216 hitter in four minor league seasons, but had already hit a career-high seven homers in 88 games with Frederick this season. Heim's best asset, however, is undoubtedly his defense. He displayed an exemplary arm and good technique behind the plate.
The Orioles, however, also have Double-A Bowie catcher Chance Sisco, whose offensive tools made him the 85th-ranked prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. And they also currently have Audry Perez and Francisco Pena handling catching duties at Triple-A Norfolk.
The acquisition of Pearce was the Orioles' second move before the trade deadline. On Sunday, they acquired veteran left-handed starter Wade Miley from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Ariel Miranda.
