Orioles trade pitcher Dean Kremer to Twins for prospect Jhomnardo Reyes

Orioles Trade Pitcher Dean Kremer to Twins for Prospect Jhomnardo Reyes

The Baltimore Orioles moved right-hander Dean Kremer to the Minnesota Twins on July 31, acquiring 18-year-old outfielder prospect Jhomnardo Reyes in return. The deal, first reported by The Athletic, comes as the Orioles shift toward a selling posture ahead of the Monday trade deadline.

The trade occurred shortly after Baltimore secured a 6-4 victory over the Phillies at Camden Yards. In a curious turn of events, the Orioles sent a starting pitcher to a direct competitor in the American League Wild Card race. At the time of the trade, the Twins held a 55-55 record and were one game ahead of the 54-56 Orioles.

Kremer, 30, was the final remaining player in the Orioles organization from the July 2018 trade that sent Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Having spent all seven of his MLB seasons in Baltimore, Kremer recorded a 4.37 ERA in 133 career games, with 130 of those being starts. Between 2022 and 2025, he maintained a 3.95 ERA for the club.

After being optioned on the final day of spring training to make room for Zach Eflin, Kremer was recalled for an April 13 start. He subsequently spent approximately 2.5 months on the injured list with a strained right quadriceps, returning on July 1. Upon his return, he struggled, posting a 7.56 ERA in five July starts. This stretch included a career-high eight runs surrendered in four innings during a 14-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Kremer leaves Baltimore with a 6.50 ERA and 1.361 WHIP across seven starts totaling 36 innings this season. He is currently playing under a one-year, $5.75 million contract and is owed approximately $1.7 million for the remainder of the year. According to Spotrac, he remains under team control through 2027.

In exchange, the Orioles receive Jhomnardo Reyes, a left-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic. Reyes, who received a $322,500 bonus in the 2025 international draft class, is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America and the No. 24 prospect by MLB Pipeline, which estimates his MLB arrival in 2030. While he can play all three outfield positions, he projects as a right fielder.

Reyes' performance this year includes 49 games in the Florida Complex League, where he posted a .296/.409/.541 slash line with seven homers, 12 doubles, three triples, and 44 RBIs. He also recorded 14 stolen bases, though he was thrown out 12 times. Following a promotion to Single-A Fort Myers, he went 2-for-19.

The move suggests a nuanced approach by Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias. On Friday, Elias told reporters that his plans would not leave the team in one bucket or another in terms of buying or selling. While the team subtracted a starter, they may still look to acquire another. Conversely, the Orioles are reportedly receiving heavy interest in pending free agent left-hander Trevor Rogers.

For the Twins, the acquisition of Kremer follows the recent addition of left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll indicated earlier in the week that the team would be buyers with a clear focus on bullpen improvement.

The trade creates a temporary gap in the Baltimore rotation. With the team having an off-day, they can skip the turn and avoid needing a replacement until Aug. 8. Currently, Chris Bassitt is on an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, and left-hander Cade Povich is also with the Tides. Trey Gibson started the game against the Phillies but is not viewed as an option until later next week.

The two teams may face each other soon, as the Orioles are scheduled to travel to Minnesota for a three-game series from Aug. 10 to Aug. 12.