Orioles signing former Yankees disappointment as post-deadline slide continues

One of the most overlooked storylines of the 2024 MLB season has been the Baltimore Orioles' inability to pull away from the New York Yankees after the Bombers' horrid 11-24 stretch, which was only bested (worst-ed?) by the Chicago White Sox.

Everyone loves the Orioles, though. Why would we ever criticize them? You simply can't! Gotta just keep kicking the Yankees at all hours of the day/night.

The O's, most might agree, also failed to capitalize at the trade deadline. We wouldn't exactly call Zach Eflin, Trevor Rogers, Gregory Soto and Eloy Jimenez a "haul," especially when you're competing in the best division in baseball and need to "go for it" when all your young talent is cost-controlled.

Eflin's been fine, but does he scream "playoff pitcher" to you? Rogers hasn't really been good this season. Soto has been awful since joining the O's. Jimenez has had a nice start, but he's been irrelevant for years.

And now, the Orioles will welcome ... former Yankee JD Davis into the picture?! What? Baltimore signed him to a minor-league deal on Wednesday after the Yankees designated him for assignment in late July.

Orioles signing former Yankees disappointment as post-deadline slide continues

Davis, if you remember and cringe, was the team's cleanup hitter during the most recent Subway Series, during which the Yankees were embarrassed because, well, he was protecting Aaron Judge in the lineup. Simply unacceptable.

We won't go as far to say Davis is unplayable, but he certainly didn't step up whatsoever for the Yankees and is probably a "last guy on the bench" type at this point in his career. Outside of providing Triple-A depth for the Orioles, we don't see the fit whatsoever.

There's another way to use him, though. The O's just need to call him up when they play the Yankees again and they'll be guaranteed a monster series that will include a game-winning hit. You know how this goes.

As for the bigger picture? Very underwhelming for Baltimore, who is just 9-9 in the second half and 14-16 since June 30.