O's trade one-time hero Robert Andino
The Baltimore Orioles make a trade sending infielder Robert Andino to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Trayvon Robinson.
The Orioles were expected to non-tender Andino by the November 30 deadline. With the Orioles signing second baseman Alexi Casilla this offseason, and hearing recent news of Brian Roberts’ good health, it makes sense to send Andino to a team where he is needed. Andino was out of minor league options, so he would have to pass through waivers before being sent to the minors.
Robert Andino made a name for himself around Baltimore and the baseball world as being the one that ended the Boston Red Sox 2011 season. September 28, 2011 is better known in Baltimore as “The Curse of the Andino” as his improbable game-winning single to left off Jonathan Papelbon sealed one the biggest collapses in baseball by the Boston Red Sox.
It was the end of the Red Sox season, but it was only the beginning for the Orioles.
Andino was traded to the Orioles in 2009 in exchange for Hayden Penn. He was used as a utility infielder, playing in just 94 games in his first two season with the Birds. Andino got his big shot in 2011 when Brian Roberts missed the majority of the season with a concussion. He wasn’t used to playing everyday, and people wondered if Andino was the answer, or if the Orioles should explore other options. Well, Andino stepped up.
In 2011: 139 games, .263 AVG, 5 home runs, 22 doubles, 36 RBI. While this may not be flattering, Andino wanted to prove that a utility infielder was capable of playing every day, and that second base was his job until Roberts came back.
Andino’s performance in 2011 helped him make his way back to second base in 2012. He got off to a great first month of the season, however, Andino was platooned at second base with Ryan Flaherty, and then put on the back burner with the return of Brian Roberts and the addition of Omar Quintanilla.
After 4 seasons with the Orioles Andino played in 360 games, batted .239 with 16 home runs and 80 RBI. He did earn himself a spot as fan favorite in Baltimore. He brought heart and character that was once missing from a squad that had 14 straight losing seasons.
As we’ve learned last season, the Orioles most important asset is depth in the organization. The 25-year-old switch-hitting Trayvon Robinson will give the Orioles the added depth needed in the outfield. Robinson spent his two seasons in the majors with Seattle, playing in 90 games, while batting .215 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI.
Over 8 seasons in the minors, Robinson batted .281 with 73 home runs and 344 RBI. He was part of a three team deal in 2011 that sent Robinson from the Dodgers to the Mariners, while shipping Erik Bedard to Boston.
