Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
The Baltimore Orioles were expected to be more active in the offseason after coming to within three games of reaching the postseason in 2022.
The team won 83 games and finished above .500 for the first time since 2016.
Ultimately, they were sellers at the trade deadline, dealing off pieces such as Trey Mancini and Jorge Lopez.
However, at least one of those deals appears to have worked out just fine.
Lopez was sent to the Minnesota Twins on August 2 last year.
In exchange, Baltimore acquired Yennier Cano.
So far, Cano has been solid for the Orioles, having pitched 11 innings while striking out 12 batters, recording two saves, and not allowing a hit or a walk.
On Twitter, Jeff Passan of ESPN took note of how the Orioles picked up a hidden gem.
There’s a real skill in finding players on the margins, and the Baltimore Orioles have struck gold with reliever Yennier Cano. Acquired in the Jorge López deal with Minnesota last year, the 29-year-old Cano’s line so far: 11 innings, 0 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts and two saves.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 30, 2023
Cano certainly has been a hidden gem for the Orioles.
The 29-year-old has also appeared in nine games and not allowed an earned run.
The right-hander made his Major League debut last season with the Twins and continued his season with the Orioles after the Lopez trade.
He went 1-1 and posted a miserable 11.50 ERA in 2022.
However, 2023 appears to be a different story for the young righty.
Better yet, the Orioles are playing some solid baseball, as they own a 19-9 record and have won eight of their last 10 games.
They’re also just 3.5 games back of the scorching Tampa Bay Rays and are leading the American League Wild Card race.
Cano has certainly helped with that and has posted some truly remarkable numbers out of the bullpen.
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