Diamondbacks make a trade for a lefty pitcher!
Arizona Diamondbacks acquire LHP Paul Fry from the Baltimore Orioles in minor trade
Late Wednesday afternoon, the Diamondbacks completed a minor trade between them and the Baltimore Orioles sending rookie-level RHP Luis Osorio for LHP Paul Fry. Paul Fry had been Designated for Assignment recently which is one reason the trade got done. Editor's update: Paul Fry has been sent to Triple-AAA via an option
Another reason the Dbacks made the trade is that they needed another lefty out of their beleaguered bullpen since now lefty ace Kyle Nelson is on the Covid IL.
Fry is a decent lefty that might have better luck working with legendary coach Brent Strom. Paul Fry has traditionally been a ground ball pitcher that limited hard contact while striking out a decent amount of batters.
From 2018 to 2021, Fry pitched in 175 games and 164.1 innings striking out 180 while walking 88 and giving up 86 runs. That's good for a roughly league-average 97 ERA+, 3.98 FIP, and 4.71 ERA.
Looking deeper at his stats, you see he has a strong strikeout rate of 24.6% for his career while he walks 12.2% of the batters he faces. I'd imagine the team made this trade thinking that Strom can help unlock his control and limit the hard contact that he's giving up this year. His hard contact rate this (53.1%) is a career high.
I doubt the team makes the trade if they don't believe he can't get right again. The 29-year-old has pitched in 12 games this year comprised of 12 innings, 9 hits, 8 runs, 7 walks, and 12 Ks. He's making 850,000 dollars this year and comes with 4 more years of control including this one. Welcome to the team Paul Fry!
As for what they gave up. They gave up rookie-level 19-year-old pitcher Luis Osorio. Osorio pitched in 15 games last year. His stats weren't great as he only threw 41.2 innings and gave up 30 runs, 6 HRs, 20 walks, and struck out 51. He's got good K potential but is far too wild. He's a low-risk, high-reward pitcher that will need at least 4 more years of MiLB training. The Orioles weren't going to get much for a pitcher they were likely to release in a few days.
Next. Ketel Marte is hurt? Wait what?!. dark
The Diamondbacks and Mike Hazen merely jumped ahead of everyone by trading a low-level flyer for Fry.