Orioles acquiring utilityman Blaze Alexander from Arizona for pitcher Kade Strowd, 2 minor leaguers

The Orioles have acquired utilityman Blaze Alexander from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In exchange, the Orioles have sent reliever Kade Strowd, minor league pitcher Wellington Aracena and infielder José Mejia to the Diamondbacks.

The 26-year-old Alexander hit .230 with a .706 OPS with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 74 games for Arizona last season, his second in the major leagues. Alexander has played second base, third and shortstop and also has played center and left field.

Strowd, who’s 28, was 0-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 25 games, walking 13 and striking out 24 in 26 1.3 innings last year, his only one in the major leagues.

Aracena, a 21-year-old, was acquired by the Orioles last July in a trade with the New York Mets for left-hander Gregory Soto. He threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings for Single-A Delmarva, allowing one hit and was 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in five games for High-A Aberdeen. He didn’t allow a home run in 92 innings last season.

The 20-year-old Mejia hit .271 with an .821 OPS with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 49 games for the Florida Complex League Orioles and Aberdeen.

The acquisition of Alexander fills a need for a utility infielder while the departure of Strowd, who was impressive last season, opens another bullpen spot.

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