Orioles Trade for Mark Trumbo: Fantasy Fallout

The Baltimore Orioles are trying to keep up with their AL East rivals by trading for slugger Mark Trumbo. Will he be enough to help the Orioles?

The American League East has been a busy division over the last couple of weeks. The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have made some big moves in order to solidify a spot atop the division. The Baltimore Orioles finally got on board the transaction train when they traded with the Seattle Mariners for slugger Mark Trumbo. Is this a sign of things to come and will it be enough to compete? 

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Trumbo broke out while a member of the Los Angeles Angels. In three seasons, he hit 95 home runs and 282 RBI with a .251/.300/.473 line. His season-and-a-half with the Arizona Diamondbacks was average, hitting 23 homers and 84 RBI with a .243 average.

He ramped up his production in the second half with the Mariners. From June 4 to the end of the season, Mark Trumbo hit 13 home runs and 41 RBI with a .263 batting average in 96 games. If you average that over a 150-game season, that would equate to 20 home runs and 64 RBI.

Now, the Orioles get a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter to help Adam Jones. This could be a sign that things aren’t where they need to be with Chris Davis. Davis crushed the ball this season, hitting 47 home runs, and is now a free agent. While Trumbo is nowhere near the hitter Davis is, he is a cheap replacement for the next couple of seasons.

From a fantasy perspective, Mark Trumbo is a starting first baseman in deeper leagues and a corner infielder in standard leagues. Moving to a hitter-friendly Camden Yards will help his fantasy value some. However, being a career .250 hitter with a 25 percent K-rate doesn’t make for an attractive option. Trumbo is the guy you stumble upon drafting when the clock is running out. You’re not upset about the pick, but he wasn’t the guy you were looking for.

Next: Red Sox Sign David Price: Fantasy Fallout

Mark Trumbo was drafted in the 11st round in ESPN leagues and finished as the 19th-best first baseman on the Player Rater. The move to the AL East will benefit Trumbo and his fantasy value. The starting pitching isn’t the best, two of the teams finished in the lower half in team ERA. The Orioles lineup  is average at best, but I think Trumbo will have great success with his new team.

Projections: 118 hits, 22 home runs, 71 RBI, .252 average

Draft: Round 13