Freel Traded to Cubs
The Cubs made a trade Friday with the Orioles, acquiring veteran utility player Ryan Freel for outfielder Joey Gathright, whom they had sent to the minors earlier in the day. Gathright will serve as organizational insurance, since Baltimore has plenty of outfielders right now who can actually hit major league pitching.
Is it a coincidence that with MacPhail coming from the Cubs that the O’s continue to be Chicago’s farm team?
Freel was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 20 after being struck in the head with an attempted pickoff throw. He insisted he felt fine, and was disappointed about the conditions surrounding a stress test he was forced to take before beginning his rehabilitation assignment. He was also frustrated over a lack of playing time. Obtained in a December trade with Cincinnati, Freel hit .133 in nine games with Baltimore. Gathright was batting .214 with Chicago this season. He will be assigned to the Orioles’ Triple-A team in Norfolk.
Dennis Sarfate will miss six weeks due to a circulatory condition in his right middle finger. Orioles manager Dave Trembley said Sarfate was told to rest for a week and refrain from throwing for a month. The good news is the condition isn’t supposed to be career or life-threatening.
Struggling closer George Sherrill worked on his command this week with pitching coach Rick Kranitz. And it showed Thursday night, as he picked up his fifth save. Sherrill was told to shorten his stride, which clearly helped with his pitch location. “That’s probably the best Sherrill has thrown this spring,” manager Dave Trembley said. “He got on top, he had finish on his pitches, his velocity was up.” He’s trying keep Chris Ray from overtaking ninth-inning duties.