ORIOLES ADD VETERAN RELIEVER 'K-ROD'
The Baltimore Orioles acquired pitcher Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers for third baseman Nick Delmonico.
What does it give the Baltimore Orioles
In Rodriguez, the Orioles land one of the top relievers available before this year's July 31 trade deadline. He was having a very strong season in Milwaukee as both a closer and setup man, so he may transition well to the eighth-inning role with Baltimore (setting up veteran closer {R Jim Johnson}. The Orioles are in contention for the American League East title, so adding 'K-Rod' at this time is a solid move.
What does it give the Milwaukee Brewers
Delmonico is only 20 and still in high Single-A ball, but the trade from Baltimore to Milwaukee should speed up his rise to the big leagues. After all, the Brewers lacked a long-term solution at the hot corner. While Delmonico still has some work to do in order to position himself for a strong future big-league bid, he definitely has a great opportunity here (veteran 3B {P Aramis Ramirez} may be the next Brewer dealt).
Fantasy impact
Down the road, Delmonico may become a quality fantasy third baseman (particularly due to his power potential). For now, his keeper-league appeal has shot way up. As for Rodriguez, he'll continue to be a solid fantasy reliever but his save chances figure to diminish now that he's in Baltimore.
