The Orioles land an athletic outfielder following a seismic trade deadline shakeup.
Christian Franklin wasn't one of the bigger names connected to the trade deadline, but he might quietly address something the Baltimore Orioles have been looking for.
As first reported by Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, Baltimore acquired the 26-year-old outfielder from the Nationals on Monday in exchange for Double-A reliever Joe Glassey, adding another player capable of competing for major league playing time while continuing to reshape the roster around the edges.
The deal itself won't generate the same attention as some of the deadline's blockbuster moves, especially as most of Baltimore mourns the departure of Adley Rutschman. The profile of the player, though, makes it a little more interesting.
Franklin isn't arriving with the kind of stat line that's going to dominate a trade deadline graphic. He was hitting .249 at Triple-A Rochester, but he also carried a .375 on-base percentage, stole 17 bases and spent time at all three outfield spots. Those are the areas where the Orioles seem to believe there's more value than the batting average alone suggests.
That outfield versatility is something Baltimore should be excited for. The Orioles already have plenty of outfield options on paper, but the group has been in constant flux due to injuries and roster moves. Franklin gives them another player who is already on a 40-man roster, has spent time in Triple-A and doesn't need to be hidden at one position if an opportunity opens up.
There's also a familiar connection waiting for him. Franklin played at Arkansas alongside Heston Kjerstad, so he'll walk into Baltimore's organization knowing at least one player well. It's a small detail, but not an insignificant one when a player is changing organizations in the middle of a season.
Washington's side of the deal centers on right-handed reliever Joe Glassey, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Glassey has split this season between High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.64 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. For the Nationals, it's a chance to add another power arm. For Baltimore, the appeal was clearly different. The Orioles saw an athletic outfielder with upper-level experience and enough versatility to fit into the picture if an opportunity presents itself over the final two months.
For Baltimore, though, the calculation looks fairly straightforward.
The Orioles added a player with upper-level experience, defensive versatility and strong on-base skills without dipping into the top tier of their farm system. It isn't the headline-grabbing move many fans spend deadline day waiting for, but it's another example of the front office adding depth in an area where the major league roster can always use another option.
Whether Franklin reaches Baltimore this season remains to be seen. What the Orioles clearly liked was the combination of athleticism, defensive flexibility and the ability to get on base. Those are traits that tend to create opportunities, especially over the final two months of a season.
