Orioles’ Jimmy Paredes Rains on Minnesota Twins’ Parade

Aug 30, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jimmy Paredes (38) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Twins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

A double and solo home run by the Orioles’ newest acquisition (at least until tomorrow) scored the first two of the Birds’ three runs on the way to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Jimmy Paredes has stepped right in with the O’s and been a factor in both of his games with his new team.

Paredes does not have the career numbers to exactly replace Manny Machado at third base, but moves like this certainly make Dan Duquette look like a genius.

And while the game was going on, DD was making other trades. As reported earlier here on The Baltimore Wire, a couple of minor league pitchers were sent to the White Sox for outfielder and speedster Alejandro De Aza. He will hopefully join the team for Sunday’s game three in the series with the Twins.

As if that was not enough to absorb, about the time the game ended, another trade was announced that sent Jemile Weeks and Ivan De Jesus to Boston for Kelly Johnson and Michael Almanzar.

Both moves caused me to have some initial head-scratching. But on further contemplation and hearing particularly Buck Showalter discuss the moves, I guess I get it. The primary reasoning is to fill the organization with more veteran players to get through the final month with wide-ranging options. It also provides more overall depth preparing for the postseason – insurance policies as well as variegated options.

I suppose Ryan Flaherty is not inspiring sufficient confidence.

But does Kelly Johnson inspire confidence? The 32-year-old former first-round draft choice is hitting a combined .212 between the Yankees and Red Sox this year. He has hit 130 home runs in his career, including 16 just a year ago.