MLB Trade Rumors 2016: It's Good Bye Angels, Hello Orioles For Efren Navarro
The Baltimore Orioles made a substantial upgrade to their roster with the acquisition of outfielder Efren Navarro from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations. The 29-year-old came up with a hitting average of .253 the last season, combined with four doubles and five RBIs. He played in 54 games for Los Angeles last season before getting traded and also spent time with the Triple A Salt Lake, producing two HRs and 29 RBIs.
The former 50th round draftee of the 2007 Amateur Draft totaled 130 major league games in his career, playing for no other team than the Angels. In more than nine minor league seasons meanwhile, he accomplished a better batting average of .300, along with 48 home runs and 495 RBIs.
Navarro showed some versatility with the Angels and minor league teams, having played both corner outfield positions. As a matter of fact, a little over half of his starts for Los Angeles last season came in the left field.
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Aside from that, he also had a stint at first base in the major leagues. But it wasn't really something of a total surprise since he actually was quite comfortable as a first baseman when he first played for the Angels. He just developed his skills to become a reliable defensive left outfielder.
In order to make room for him on their 40-man roster, the Orioles had no choice but to give up and designate another outfielder, L.J. Hoes, for assignment. Hoes hasn't really seen a lot of action for the team because he's practically a newcomer, having transferred to Baltimore from Houston through a November trade. The 25-year-old batted .295/.383/.400 in a total of 99 games with triple A Fresno, before getting called up by the Astros, where he played eight games.
Interestingly, he actually won the minor league Player of the Year award in 2012 with the Orioles before getting shipped to Houston the next year.
