The Orioles had 36 players on their 40-man roster when the Winter Meetings began in Nashville and they made two moves with the free-agent signing of closer Craig Kimbrel and trade with Kansas City for pitcher Jonathan Heasley.
Kimbrel is a veteran of 14 major league seasons and the Orioles are his eighth team. He’s a former Rookie of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He’s an open book.
Heasley appeared in 36 games with the Royals over the past three seasons, used in relief 12 times in 2023 after his 24 starts in 2021-22. The Orioles announced the trade on Dec. 18, surrendering Dominican Summer League right-hander Cesar Espinal.
How Heasley would be used, how he was viewed, wasn’t included in the press release and must be ascertained later.
Having one minor league option had to increase his appeal with the organization. The bullpen needs the flexibility. And we’re assuming that he’s more likely to work in relief, though he could make the occasional start.
A scout from another organization who’s filed reports on Heasley praises the right-hander for being “a great makeup kid, great presence on the mound.”
“Probably average stuff with better makeup,” he said. “Really can pitch. Very aggressive with hitters. He came up to the big leagues probably a year too early for him, but guys move quickly now. He had some starts where he really competed well. The fastball was a little true, really good curveball. I thought that was his best pitch. I think he’s added a cutter or slider-type pitch.
“He’s been more middle relief, and I think that’s his future in the game, a mid-reliever type, can spot start for you. A one- or two-inning guy who can come in and hold them once through the lineup. I really like him. The makeup is what you’re looking for when you’re looking for major leaguers. It’s just, the stuff was average.
“I’d give his curveball an above-average pitch, fastball being average and other stuff. But I think they’re going to like him. Pitching on a competing club for the World Series every year, he never had the chance to do that with them. A lot of guys are better like that. When their club’s doing better, they do better.”
The scout knows the Orioles’ track record for turning around careers, their success with reclamation projects, if that’s the appropriate term. How Yennier Cano became an All-Star setup man. Félix Bautista’s rise from hard-throwing, control-challenged, low-minors pitcher to dominant All-Star closer and recipient of a Reliever of the Year award. Kyle Bradish’s development from prospect with the Angels to fourth-place finisher for a Cy Young Award.
It can happen with position players, too.
“The one guy that I was amazed with, and I thought the Royals gave him every chance, was (Ryan) O’Hearn, the first baseman. How about that?” the scout said.
It’s just amazing what new life does for a professional athlete. You kind of get down because you don’t think you’re being used right and all this kind of stuff, and next thing you know, you go to another club, there’s no net underneath you and you’ve just got to kind of put your head to the grindstone and you’ve got to figure it out.
“I think Heasley is a little bit better than what O’Hearn was when the Orioles got him. I know it’s a different position, but I think Heasley’s ready to compete at the major league level. He’s a strike thrower, which is always good in this game today, and I think there’s some things that can help him. They (Royals) were in a roster crunch and probably didn’t necessarily want to move him.”
Heasley has a mid-90s fastball and began using a sweeper this year, per Baseball Savant. The changeup usage decreased. The curveball produced his highest whiff rate and put-away percentage, and opponents batted .167 against it.
A repertoire that the Orioles can work with while trying to lower his career 5.45 ERA and 1.436 WHIP accumulated over 133 2/3 innings. Maybe hike up the 5.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
“He’s just got to find his niche in that mid-relief, occasional spot start role,” the scout said. “To start the year, anyway.”
