Headlines

  • Surgery Recommended For Framber Valdez
  • Brewers To Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.
  • No Planned Future Discussion On Expanded Playoffs, Universal DH In 2021
  • Out Of Options 2021
  • Royals, Hunter Dozier Agree To Four-Year Extension
  • Giants, Scott Kazmir Agree To Minor League Deal
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Orioles Acquire Matt Wotherspoon, Jason Wheeler

By Connor Byrne | July 2, 2017 at 4:19pm CDT

The Orioles have made a pair of trades, according to a team announcement. They’ve acquired right-hander Matt Wotherspoon from the Yankees and left-hander Jason Wheeler from the Dodgers, surrendering international signing bonus slots for both players. Wotherspoon and Wheeler will report to Triple-A Norfolk.

Trading international money for players is nothing new for the Orioles, who took that route before Sunday to acquire the likes of Damien Magnifico, Paul Fry and Alex Katz earlier this season. Their aversion to spending on the international market has led to criticism from Baseball America’s Ben Badler, who laid into O’s ownership back in April for their “antiquated” approach.

The 25-year-old Wotherspoon has mostly served as a reliever in the minors since the Yankees chose him in the 34th round of the 2014 draft. He debuted at the Triple-A level last season and has been quite effective since, having logged a 2.10 ERA, 6.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 34 1/3 innings.

Unlike Wotherspoon, Wheeler comes with major league experience. An eighth-rounder of the Twins in 2011, the 26-year-old made his debut earlier this season with Minnesota. He fared poorly over three innings, though, yielding three earned runs on six hits and four walks, with no strikeouts. The Twins then traded him to the Dodgers on June 2, but Los Angeles designated him for assignment on June 18. Wheeler pitched exclusively with their Triple-A affiliate, recording a 10.38 ERA over 8 2/3 innings. Overall, Wheeler owns a 4.74 ERA, 6.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 281 Triple-A frames and 51 appearances (48 starts).

The Dodgers and Yankees both began Sunday, the opening of the 2017-18 international signing period, with $4.75MM available. LA is unable to sign anyone for more than $300K, however, while New York ate into its total by agreeing to deals with Venezuelan outfielder Everson Pereira and shortstop Roberto Chirinos for a combined $2.4MM. The Yankees are also likely to sign Dominican shortstop Ronny Rojas in August for a projected $1.05MM.

Share 0 Retweet 13 Send via email0

Baltimore Orioles Jason Wheeler Los Angeles Dodgers New York Yankees Transactions

Rangers Open To Trading Jonathan Lucroy
Main
Angels Release Michael Bourn
19 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. yankees500

    4 years ago

    The orioles just hate the international signings.

    Like
    Reply
  2. BaltimoreMatthew23

    4 years ago

    It is getting kind of annoying. These guys probably aren’t even going to come up, and we are dumping more and more international money. You wonder why our system is so bad.

    Like
    Reply
    • tenman85

      4 years ago

      I mean, they’re not going to spend it so why not? It doesn’t sound like they want to pay the staff that’s needed to scout internationally.

      Like
      Reply
    • JDGoat

      4 years ago

      It really is amazing that Angelos is so against it. Why could he possibly be so much against trying to build his farm system this way? It’s so weird

      Like
      Reply
  3. roenickstein

    4 years ago

    Who the heck is Ben Badler? And why do we care what he has to say about the Orioles who have been a fairly successful organization? Is there any evidence to suggest that picking from the international draft is any more successful than what we got from the Yankees and elsewhere?

    Like
    Reply
    • JD396

      4 years ago

      What does Baseball America know about prospects the last 35 years? Oh, wait

      1 Like
      Reply
    • Connor Byrne

      4 years ago

      He’s someone who knows more about international prospects/international free agency than just about anyone.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • dorfmac

      4 years ago

      As your username suggests, you’re clearly stuck in the 80s when the international market wasn’t nearly as integral to a team as it is now.

      Like
      Reply
  4. biasisrelitive

    4 years ago

    wait they have something up for wheeler???

    Like
    Reply
  5. realgone2

    4 years ago

    I can’t wait until Angelos croaks.

    Like
    Reply
    • JDGoat

      4 years ago

      Jesus I don’t agree with his decision not to sign international prospects either but that’s a little far man

      1 Like
      Reply
    • JKB

      4 years ago

      Its just a game realgone2. You want the man dead? What is wrong with you?

      1 Like
      Reply
  6. roenickstein

    4 years ago

    I guess I deserved the sarcastic remark. I get it. I really do.

    The last few times the Orioles have been mentioned in an article in association with the international market; it seems to be followed by how badly Ben Badler thinks the O’s are screwing up. I guess that’s my criticism. Why do the writers of this site consistently cite something Ben Badler said several months ago? It’s just weird. That’s all.

    Like
    Reply
    • Connor Byrne

      4 years ago

      “Why do the writers of this site consistently cite something Ben Badler said several months ago?”

      Because it continues to be relevant.

      Like
      Reply
      • roenickstein

        4 years ago

        Thanks Connor. It sure is relevant. But I’d be curious to know if there are any other opinions out there that are relevant that would go a step further in explaining the team’s side of the issue. Dan Connolly wrote a recent article on the subject. It’s pretty good. He even references the Baseball America article.

        Like
        Reply
  7. therealryan

    4 years ago

    The Dodgers must be ready to sign a bunch of players if they are adding money to their pool while being capped at $300k on any player. They already could have signed 16 players at their $300k max without adding anything. They must be planning to bring in 20-25 guys, if not more.

    Like
    Reply
    • Mike_Davis

      4 years ago

      Or they could package some of the pool money in larger deal to upgrade their roster.

      Like
      Reply
    • MaverickDodger

      4 years ago

      Or could’ve been a case of getting the best deal for someone they would’ve let go anyways . . . I know one thing for certain. I don’t know!

      Like
      Reply
  8. roenickstein

    4 years ago

    Nah. Not stuck in the 80″s. Just a user name that I thought was fun. You made quite an assumption from a user name.

    And I do realize the importance of the international market. I just got a little annoyed when the same quote was cited on a few occasions. Even a couple of people on this message thread seemed to have questions about why the Orioles do or don’t participate in the international market. There are better articles out there than this one to answer these questions. That’s all. No need for the backhanded jab.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Surgery Recommended For Framber Valdez

    Brewers To Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.

    No Planned Future Discussion On Expanded Playoffs, Universal DH In 2021

    Out Of Options 2021

    Royals, Hunter Dozier Agree To Four-Year Extension

    Giants, Scott Kazmir Agree To Minor League Deal

    Kelvin Herrera Announces Retirement

    Braves Extend Brian Snitker

    Yankees Sign Justin Wilson

    Braves Sign Jake Lamb

    Recent

    Surgery Recommended For Framber Valdez

    Brewers To Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.

    No Planned Future Discussion On Expanded Playoffs, Universal DH In 2021

    Diamondbacks To Sign Heath Fillmyer

    Minor MLB Transactions: 3/3/21

    Aaron Boone Taking Medical Leave To Receive Pacemaker

    COVID Notes: Locastro, Happ

    Health Notes: Leake, Sox, Rox, Angels

    MLBTR Poll: Expectations For 2021 Mets

    Jon Lester Will Undergo Surgery To Remove Thyroid Gland

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • Jackie Bradley Jr. Rumors
    • Jake Odorizzi Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version