OF/1B Eli Marrero was traded to Baltimore from the Royals after they had him designated for assignment. In exchange, the Royals receive minor league IF Pete Maestrales. To make room on the 40-man roster, the O's will designate Ottawa RP Jacobo Sequea for assignment. If Marrero passes a physical, he'll join the big league club on Friday, with either Nivar or Calzado, presumably, going back to Ottawa.
If you're wondering at all, Maestrales sucks. He's 25 and has been playing at Delmarva.
Marrero used to be a catcher, but hasn't caught in a while and Mazzilli has no intention of trying to move him back behind the plate.
He's hitting .159/.222/.341 this year over 88 at-bats for Kansas City, but he does have four homers and four doubles in his 14 hits, and he was a strong role player for the Braves last year, hitting .320 with an .894 OPS, 10 homers and 40 RBI. It was actually the best he's ever hit in the majors, despite his 18-HR breakout year with the Cardinals in 2002.
You can do worse for a reserve outfielder, and if he gets his bat going, he could make a nice platoon partner for Raffy at first.
I sort of wish we had made a move for Josh Phelps - just DFA'd by Tampa Bay - instead, because even though he's not hitting lefties so far this season, over his career he has done well against them (.293/.357/.500). Marrero is at .271/.334/.449 career against LHP.