Nolan Reimold's time with the Orioles is finally over. He's been claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays.
For the Orioles with Nolan Reimold, it's official. It's finally over. After designating the oft-injured Reimold for assignment last week because they had no room for him on the roster when he returned from his minor league rehab, they had ten days to trade, waive, or release him.
Since they didn't work out a trade, they tried to sneak him through waivers so they could outright him to Triple-A Norfolk. The Blue Jays scuttled that plan by claiming Reimold, so he will be off to the Toronto organization.
This is the second time the Blue Jays have tried to get their hands on an Orioles cast-off this season. Previously, they were looking for the services of Steve Pearce while he was in DFA limbo. Luckily for the Orioles, Pearce wanted to remain in Baltimore. Reimold, on the other hand, has no choice. Whoever claimed him, that's where he would be going.
If this proves to close the book on Reimold's tenure with the Orioles, he finishes having played 286 games over parts of five seasons, only playing anything close to a full season in his rookie year of 2009. Over that time, he's batted .252/.327/.439, respectable but not great. He's never managed to be both good and healthy for long and, though it seems impossible, he is 30. He is long past the prospect improvement days.
I'll miss Reimold, who I've always irrationally liked ever since his rookie year. He was this unexpected bright spot on a terrible team, especially when he hit a walk-off extra-innings home run against those same Blue Jays.
It's a better era for the Orioles now, where they don't have to wait around and hope for disappointing players. I'll miss Reimold, but it's better this way. Ordinarily, this is where I'd wish the former Oriole the best, but since he is going to the Orioles current closest competition for the division lead, well, I hope he shows the Jays why the Orioles DFA'd him.