Orioles Add Reliever Cam Sanders in Trade With Pirates
The Baltimore Orioles have acquired right-handed reliever Cam Sanders from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Baltimore transferred left-hander Keegan Akin to the 60-day injured list and assigned Sanders to Triple-A Norfolk.
Sanders became available after the Pirates designated him for assignment on July 11. Pittsburgh had optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis the previous day before needing additional roster space following the acquisitions of infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox. Instead of exposing Sanders to waivers, the Pirates completed a cash deal with Baltimore.
The 29-year-old appeared in five different stints with Pittsburgh this season, making nine relief appearances. He posted an 8.68 ERA over 9.1 innings while striking out 13 batters and issuing 10 walks. Opponents hit .250 against him, and he finished with a 2.04 WHIP. While his command was inconsistent, Sanders generated strikeouts at a strong 27.1% rate, though his walk rate rose to 20.8%.
Sanders debuted in the majors with the Pirates in August 2025 after signing with the organization before that season. During his first taste of big league action, he recorded an 8.10 ERA across 6.2 innings in six appearances, tallying four strikeouts, five walks, a .310 opponents’ batting average, and a 2.10 WHIP. Prior to joining Pittsburgh, he spent his professional career in the Chicago Cubs organization.
On the mound, Sanders features a four-seam fastball and slider as his primary pitches while mixing in a changeup against left-handed hitters. This season, he replaced his sweeper with a sinker. Both his fastball and slider have produced whiff rates above 40% in limited major league action, but improving his control will be key to his long-term success.
Meanwhile, Akin remains sidelined after suffering a UCL injury in late June and is scheduled to be evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister. The veteran left-hander has been a fixture in Baltimore’s pitching staff since 2020 and recorded a career-best eight saves last season. His transfer to the 60-day injured list signals that he is expected to miss significant time.
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