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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players Orioles should acquire

By Joshua Sadlock

May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) takes the ball to relieve relief pitcher Alec Asher (51) in the 11th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) takes the ball to relieve relief pitcher Alec Asher (51) in the 11th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 23, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) drives in the go ahead runs against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) drives in the go ahead runs against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Jordy Mercer

It would take a massive shift in the way the Orioles typically do business for them to send Hardy to the bench in favor of a trade pickup like Mercer, who is having a solid season at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Orioles have a tight clubhouse, and Hardy is as much a leader as anyone else in the lineup.

Still, the facts remain that Hardy, at 34, is a shell of the player who hit 77 home runs in his first three years in Baltimore. Mercer is not quite the offensive player Hardy was in his prime, but he is also not over 50 percent below the league average at the plate.

Mercer is a career .258/.318/.379 hitter in six seasons at the MLB level and is a veteran of multiple pennant races with the Pirates. He is having one of the best seasons of his career and could top his career highs in home runs and RBI. Mercer is not flashy, but would offer the Orioles an upgrade with control beyond the end of this season.

The Pirates are borderline sellers at this point, and have more valuable trade chips than Mercer that definitely need to be moved. They will shop Mercer, but perhaps not as aggressively as Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole. If things get even worse with Hardy, the Orioles may inquire about Mercer.

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