The Orioles announced Wednesday that they’ve claimed righty Phoenix Sanders off waivers from the Rays. Tampa Bay designated Sanders for assignment over the weekend.
Sanders, 27, made his big league debut with Tampa Bay this season, tossing 14 2/3 innings with five runs allowed on a dozen hits and three walks. The former 10th-round pick fanned 21.1% of his opponents, walked 5.3% of them and kept 41.5% of batted balls against him on the ground.
Solid as those numbers are, Sanders hasn’t exactly shined with Triple-A Durham this year. While he’s posted an eye-popping 36-to-2 K/BB ratio there, Sanders and his 89.8 mph average fastball velocity have also been tagged for 39 hits — six of which cleared the fence for home runs (1.8 HR/9) — en route to a 5.40 ERA in 30 innings. He yielded plenty of hard contact in his limited big league time as well, evidenced by a sky-high 92.9 mph average exit velocity and a 45.2% hard-hit rate from his opponents.
The 2022 season may be a mixed bag of results in some regards, but looking more broadly, Sanders has a solid overall track record in the upper minors and has a full slate of minor league options remaining, as this year marked the first occasion on which his contract has been selected to the 40-man roster. He’ll give the O’s a somewhat intriguing, league-minimum arm who can be optioned freely and provide depth in the ’pen moving forward.
Yes Awesome. Was so hoping we’d claim him!
Nice pickup. Solid pitcher, maybe they can get more out of him. I wonder if TB thought he’d slip thru.
36:2 K/BB and 42% GB rate normally translates to success in the long term. Hopefully he can figure out how to limit hard contact.
I have a good feeling about this guy. He’s like a Phoenix rising up from Arizona!
Noah Syndergaard level potential.
Is it my crazy imagination or are the Orioles becoming the newest version of the Rays?? High on analytics, finding hidden gems that turn out to be useful players..
If you going to steal, steal from the best.
Phoenix rises again.
He’s a lot better than what most teams already have. Another good move, O’s.
He’s like 16th or so on the BP depth chart now that everyone is getting healthy. Just in AAA Cleavinger, Guerra, Perdomo, Anderson, McKay and Patino are higher nevermind Feyerhose and Wisler coming back soon too. I liked Sanders, but Rays have ridiculous BP depth.
The one two set up punch to get to the closer, is now only one punch (Tate). The other half, Bautista, is now the closer. The couple of relievers who are not specialist, guys like Kriebahl (SP?) and Aiken, are scuffling in this role. Thought DL Hall was going to be there with Tate, but maybe not? Putting a guy like Saunders in there is worth a shot?
Definitely miss Lopez.
Like the trade but we miss having another dependable late inning reliever. Will have to address in the off-season.
I think you may be missing the May version rather than the August version of Lopez.
@Ra, so Jorge has got him a case of the “scuffle after the shuffle” blues? Panic in the Twin Cities?
Maybe. I was noting that he has been OK but not as great in the past couple months compared to the beginning of the year.
I am happier with Bautista in the highest leverage roles. And I think Lopez is replaceable, so I do not miss him all that much
Miss having another dependable late inning reliever.
I like Lopez but I have full confidence the FO can find another. Prob not this year though. That we miss
Agreed.
Would like him right now relieving Perez in the 9th
Lopez August sOPS+ = 99
sss, i know
I saw him pitch in Durham earlier this season. He may not walk anybody, but he’s hittable…
In return, the Rays get Phillips. Thank you!