There’s nothing a Major League Baseball team loves more than finding a hidden gem, and multiple teams seem to think that’s what 27-year-old outfielder Pedro León could be.
After recovering from a serious knee injury and spending the entire season in Triple-A for the Houston Astros, León was designated for assignment, and on Nov. 6, the Baltimore Orioles claimed him. Less than two weeks later, though, Baltimore made him a 40-man roster casualty when the deadline to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft arrived.
Because he had been in the organization for less than two weeks, it’s fair to assume the Orioles still wanted to keep León and were hoping he would pass through waivers this time. However, the outfield-needy Philadelphia Phillies had other ideas.
On Friday, the Phillies announced on social media that they had claimed León off waivers. Cuban baseball reporter Francys Romero was the first to report the news of the transaction.
He’s only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, but León has serious power potential. In 458 minor-league games, he’s totaled 77 home runs, including 24 last season for Triple-A Sugar Land. He’s also got an .804 OPS and 111 stolen bases, making him a well-rounded prospect despite being past what most people would consider prospect age.
The Phillies are trying (without luck so far) to trade right fielder Nick Castellanos, and they certainly aren’t sold on Johan Rojas as their center fielder, either. Though they can be expected to pursue free agents, the Phillies still should be able to offer León an opportunity to compete for a job in spring training.
If León winds up becoming a big-league regular, the Phillies will certainly thank the Orioles for letting him walk, and those sorts of decisions that seem inconsequential in the moment are what make the offseason such a riveting time.
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