The Orioles have acquired first baseman/outfielder Efren Navarro from the Angels in exchange for cash considerations, the teams announced today. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Navarro, Baltimore announced that it has designated outfielder L.J. Hoes for assignment.
Navarro, 29, was designated for assignment last week to clear a roster spot in Anaheim for right-hander Al Alburquerque, who signed as a free agent. Navarro has seen Major League action with the Angels in four of the past five seasons, totaling a .246/.303/.324 batting line in 280 plate appearances. He’s hit just one home run in that time, though he’s shown a bit more pop in the minors, where he is a .316/.378/.449 hitter with 32 home runs in 2344 plate appearances at Triple-A. Navarro hasn’t hit much with the Angels, but he’s posted solid walk and strikeout rates (7.5 percent and 16.1 percent, respectively). He’s also graded out reasonably well in both Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved at first base and in left field in his small samples of work at each position.
Navarro will, presumably, join the competition for corner outfield playing time in Baltimore. The Orioles currently have Hyun-Soo Kim as one option (in left field — they’re said not to like his arm in right), with Nolan Reimold, Mark Trumbo, Henry Urrutia, Dariel Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty among the other options that could conceivably see some time in right field. Trumbo, of course, is best suited for first base or DH work, but he does have considerable experience in the outfield. As a left-handed bat, Navarro could conceivably pair with Reimold to form a platoon, should not additional outside option be brought in by GM Dan Duquette and his staff. That looks like somewhat of an uninspiring group, on paper, but the Orioles took a piecemeal approach to their corner outfield situation last season, creating some precedent for such measures, and the team has spent heavily in other areas, perhaps limiting its offseason spending capacity.
Hoes has had good success at the upper levels of the minor leagues, including a .299/.388/.399 batting line in parts of four seasons at the Triple-A level. The 25-year-old was originally a third-round pick by Baltimore back in 2008, though the O’s traded him to Houston in the 2013 Bud Norris swap. Hoes was designated for assignment by Houston this offseason, though, and picked up in a trade similar to today’s transaction back in November. In spite of his solid on-base percentage and batting average in Triple-A, Hoes has batted just .237/.289/.329 in 337 Major League plate appearances.
I like Efren. Sad to see him go, as a So Cal. guy. Cool demeanor, doesn’t seem rattled by pressure. Not a great player, but I’ve always liked his potential. Very solid defender at 1st base. He’ll be a good backup for Davis.
At 29 years old the potential is no longer there… I do agree he always seemed comfortable and “looked” like he was going to do some damage. Always fell short or hit a single.
Typical Orioles free agent move. Sign as many mediocre (or worse) players before Spring Training, throw them against the wall to see if, by some miracle, any of them stick.
This wasn’t a free agent move. It was a trade.
Every year the O’s let FA go and trade for crap. Davis resign shock me . But we loss 2 FA and we would have been without Matt if he didn’t take QA. The O’s always seem to be bottom feeders . We need pitching you kinda can win without it
A lot of teams need pitching. It’s extremely hard to come by.
Lmfao what? “O’s never sign anyone, they are bottom feeders.” they signed Davis, Weiters and O’day back… what are you on? Just stop dude. One team cant sign every free agent. just stop you sound like a […].
They didn’t want weiters to accept QA they where very open about want the draft pick. Grow pitcher buy bats does not work if you trade all your chips the minors are thin so to win you need pitching .Chen was a deal for Maimi. The O’s sign who that was not on this team Kim? Chris and Kevin are the only pitcher in starting staff that I would keep Bundy will start in the bullpen. The other two pitcher are crap so we are going to win by starting our bullpen.Sorry but I would like to see a WS again for the O’s 83 was way to long ago and they did it the Orioles way which is PITCHING !! And defense but some where along the line they forgot they need Dom. Pitching .not an a(…..) just don’t stick up for a team that makes millions on tv and park sales but refuse to get what they need to step to the next level
Hmm. I used to think it was Hoes before Navarros, but apparently I was mistaken.
There are no more Hoes in this house.
I guess that’s the OF help . I think i like to see Alvarez and jimmy get they’re cuts there
saw “5 comments” on this & took a second before clicking to guess how many of them were jokes about LJ’s name. went with 3, but in fact it’s only 1. disappointed
Don’t be mad that Edgar Olmos didn’t show up on the front page this week
The Orioles kickin’ Hoes out the door again? Damn. And you know if they call, Hoes will just come crawling back.