When the Orioles were in extensive trade talks with the Chicago Cubs last year about Brian Roberts, they wanted young outfielder Felix Pie and were told that he was unavailable.
Yesterday, with the Cubs running out of both patience and opportunity for their one-time top prospect, they sent him to the Orioles for starting pitcher Garrett Olson and Single-A pitcher Henry Williamson.
The trade was Orioles president Andy MacPhail's latest attempt to make the team's roster younger and more athletic, and add to the organization's young position-player depth, which has been lacking for years. Pie, who turns 24 next month, has struggled in brief stints with the Cubs the past two seasons, but the Orioles are enamored of his tools and plan to give him an extended big league opportunity.
Pie said he is happy to go to the Orioles and get a chance to play "every day."
"I had the opportunity to play every day in the minors, and everybody knew me in the minors," Pie said. "In the big leagues, it was a little different. It was up and down and up and down, and I didn't get a chance to show people that I can play every day and I can be a superstar. Now, I can show everybody what they are getting from me."
Pie, a left-handed hitter, is likely to be used in a left-field platoon with Ryan Freel and be the main backup for Adam Jones in center field and Nick Markakis in right. His addition also means that, at least for now, Luke Scott, who started 100 games in left field last year, will become the team's everyday designated hitter and Aubrey Huff the team's regular first baseman.
"We're excited to have Felix," said MacPhail, who was the general manager of the Cubs when they signed the Dominican Republic native as an amateur free agent in 2001. " ... He's an excellent defender with a plus arm, great speed. We think he'll hit in the major leagues. We'll give him an opportunity to show it. We're going to be patient with him."
In parts of two seasons with the Cubs, Pie had a .223 average (58-for-260) with three homers, 30 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. In parts of seven minor league seasons, Pie has a career average of .299 with 62 home runs and 317 RBIs in 627 games.
Pie was out of options and would have had a hard time cracking the Cubs' Opening Day roster after their offseason additions of outfielders Milton Bradley and Joey Gathright.
