O'S LAND VET SLUGGER, LEADER THOME
The Baltimore Orioles acquired designated hitter/first baseman Jim Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino.
What does it give the Baltimore Orioles
Thome is one of the greatest sluggers in major league history and he's still producing despite his age. On top of that, Thome is a respected clubhouse leader who can help the surprisingly competitive O's stay that way in the second half of this season. While mostly a pinch-hitter in the National League, Thome will likely serve as a regular DH in the American League (probably mostly against righties). This move is somewhat tough news for {P Chris Davis} and {P Mark Reynolds} (who may now be forced into a lefty-righty platoon at first base when right fielder {P Nick Markakis} returns) and for injured lefty DH {P Nick Johnson}.
What does it give the Philadelphia Phillies
It's unclear if this signals the Phillies might be looking toward next season (as they're in the NL East basement) but regardless, Thome wasn't an everyday player for them. The two prospects Philly gets in return for Thome aren't close to the majors, but they're both relatively promising (if not yet proven). Simon has a 3.47 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 72.2 innings at high-A ball this season, while Lino has struggled a bit at low-A (with a .224 batting average, 4 home runs, and 18 RBI).
Fantasy impact
