M's & O's SWAP MINOR-LEAGUERS THAMES & KELLY
The Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Eric Thames from the Seattle Mariners for third baseman Ty Kelly.
What does it give the Baltimore Orioles
In recent seasons the Orioles have focused on bringing in batters who have good power swings, and while Thames isn't a monster homer hitter he does have good pop in his bat. In fact, probably the only thing that makes him more appealing to the O's in this deal is he has significantly more power than Kelly. With Baltimore having to shuffle things around in the outfield and at DH lately, Thames could prove to be a solid depth guy if needed (and one who has enjoyed some success in the bigs before, with Toronto).
What does it give the Seattle Mariners
Recently the Mariners designated hulking big third base prospect {P Alex Liddi} for assignment, so boosting their depth at the hot corner with Kelly makes sense. Kelly is a very reliable and consistent batter and run producer (one of the most reliable and consistent Baltimore had in its farm system), although he doesn't have a lot of raw power. With Mariners starting 3B {P Kyle Seager} not exactly a stellar performer, Kelly could eventually push for the major league gig. All that said, the timing of this deal is a bit curious considering Seattle's current pressing need for healthy outfielders.
Fantasy impact
Neither Thames nor Kelly has played in the major leagues this season, so there isn't much fantasy impact here. That said, Thames is playing pretty well in Triple-A this season (batting .295 with 7 HR's and 33 RBI for Norfolk) so may be in the mix for a call-up if there are injuries in Baltimore's outfield. He rates as a sleeper thanks to his past (albeit limited) success in the Majors. The same goes for Kelly with the Mariners, as he has a very professional approach as a hitter (although doesn't boast much power for a third baseman).
