The Trey Mancini trade from the Orioles to the Astros had players and fans in Baltimore trying to process heartbreak and frustration.
Trey Mancini has been a fan favorite in Baltimore. So, of course, he’s been shipped away to Houston.
The Orioles traded Mancini to the Astros on Monday in a three-team deal that landed them a prospect each from Houston and Tampa Bay.
The reaction in Baltimore to even the idea of losing Mancini was heated. Seeing it actually happen crushed fans and even players like Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander and Jorge López.
Ryan Mountcastle on the Orioles' trade of Trey Mancini: "It's gonna be tough without him. And I know a lot of us are pretty upset."
— Zach Silver (@zachsilver) August 1, 2022
Ryan Mountcastle on Trey Mancini being traded: It sucks. Said he’s the nicest human being he has known. Rest of team will have to step up.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) August 1, 2022
Jorge López called Trey Mancini an inspiration and said what he’s overcome has stuck with him particularly because of what his son, Mikael, has been through.
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) August 1, 2022
“We just lost one of the greatest teammates and one of the greatest players.”
Asked what Trey Mancini has meant to him and the Orioles, Anthony Santander grabbed a signed Mancini jersey out of his locker and gave it a hug.
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) August 1, 2022
Fans of the Orioles and even neutrals looked at the deal with plenty of side-eye.
Trey Mancini trade: Best memes and tweets from angry Orioles fans
The Mancini trade is such a bummer. Orioles are enjoyable for the first time in five years, three games from a Wild Card spot, and they deal away the heart of the team for presumably not a whole lot.
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 1, 2022
Just so deflating.
Orioles fans after trading away Trey Mancini when they were finally in the wild card race: pic.twitter.com/Sj12YM23za
— Legion Sports Management (@thelegionsm) August 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/JasonSchuComedy/status/1554219940604825601
So, we got a player that's already had Tommy John surgery, and one that's Rule 5 eligible, all for the low price of a team's heart in a year of rebirth. I'm not so sure about this one. #Orioles
— Travis Lee (@TLeeG) August 1, 2022
Pretty sure the Orioles’ return for the heart and soul of their team, was a pack of Costco T-shirts and a Chinese finger trap
— ❌ Grant X2 ❌ (@rare_ribeye_x2) August 1, 2022
The Orioles are 3 games back from the wildcard after years and years of misery & the fanbase is finally starting to get invested again
— Brad (@Brad13____) August 1, 2022
and the front office decides to trade a beloved player on an expiring contract for a recent TJS pitcher and a 5 ERA guy in A ball
disgusting
Not everyone was irate though. Many tried to cope in their own ways, whether looking at the deal analytically or looking ahead to what Mancini can accomplish in Houston.
Trust the process. Trust the process. Trust the process. Trust the process.#orioles pic.twitter.com/bxM3wx2lLC
— Matt Hankins🔨🔎🏠 (@restocarp) August 1, 2022
Mancini wasn't going to be here next year and you need to clear the DH logjam. It hurts but it is the correct baseball move.
— Hingle McCringleberry (@orioleslifer) August 1, 2022
Astros fans.
— Mills (@MillsTwitch) August 1, 2022
You got a good one. Treat him right for us.
Not going to lie, it’s a tough day to be @orioles fan. Thank you @TreyMancini for all that you have done for #Birdland and our community. There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude. We will miss you.
— Beth (@bethluvsOs87) August 1, 2022
What’s done is done and Orioles fans will have to get used to seeing Mancini wearing a new jersey this year.
They can also start dreaming because GM Mike Elias is already talking about pursuing Mancini in free agency, per Roch Kubatko.
Mancini’s contract was up at the end of the season, so he’s basically a rental for Houston. Baltimore tried to get something back for him knowing free agency was coming up.
Judging the trade right now can only go so far. It’ll really come down to what happens with the prospects, Seth Johnson and Chayce McDermott, and Mancini down the line.