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Just a half season ago, the Baltimore Orioles dealt for 24-year old former top prospect Felix Pie in an effort to revitalize his broken career in Chicago.

He wasn’t getting proper playing time with the Cubs, so many believed his potential went unnoticed and unused. Closing in on the All-Star Break with the Birds, one thing is certain—Felix Pie has proven to be nothing but a false hope once again.

He is hitting .234 with two HR, eight RBI, 14 runs, and a stolen base. He was given the opportunity to play every day at the start of the ‘09 campaign, and he failed to take advantage.

Instead, 25-year old rookie Nolan Reimold was given the chance of a lifetime, and has taken it in stride.   The future outfield is now set with Reimold, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis, leaving Pie rotting on the bench and taking up roster space.

So what does Andy MacPhail plan to do with him?

It wouldn’t be smart just to let him test the waivers. The Orioles President of Baseball Operations has a different idea—he plans to test the trade market for the lifetime bust.

According to the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec, one team that has shown interest in Pie is the Chicago White Sox. Josh Fields’ name has popped up in trade talks, for the young corner infielder has now been permanently blocked off by rookie stud Gordon Beckham and veteran Paul Konerko.

From an O’s standpoint, Fields would be an excellent pickup. Let’s go further into this deal for a second.

The O’s trade Pie, someone who receives limited playing time and doesn’t have proper baseball instincts, for a third baseman with power potential.

Fields is currently hitting .230 with six HR, 26 RBI, 25 runs, and two stolen bases. He is a career .232 hitter; however, he showed in 2007 that with at-bats, he can produce. In ‘07, he hit .244 with 23 HR, 67 RBI, 54 runs, and a stolen base in 100 games.

Compared to the current decline of Orioles’ starting third baseman Melvin Mora, Fields appears to be a decent upgrade, especially with him being roughly 10 years younger than the aging veteran.

To fuel the fire, the Orioles need a future third baseman, and the next candidate could be youngster Brandon Waring at Single-A Frederick.

One could call it another Felix Pie situation with Fields. Trade for him, and start a new experiment.

If he works out, then Baltimore has a new future third baseman for when first baseman Brandon Snyder and “The Cavalry” of young pitching arrive in Birdland.

If it fails, then we can at least say we gave it an effort.

It’s a win-win deal for the Orioles, and this is a situation fans have been looking for since Reimold stole the show. If we could get anything for Pie, then we should take advantage. To say that we could grab a future third base candidate is unbelievable.

To MacPhail: Get this deal done. If the White Sox still have interest in this fourth outfielder, then by all means trade him away.

It’s about time we took the same road as the Cubs.

Felix Pie was nothing more than a top prospect, and I can guarantee you that revisiting Chicago will not revitalize his short career.

To the Orioles Front Office: Get him out while you still can.

By Lawrence Barreca
Jabberhead
BR Writer/SJ Contributing Author

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/214030-is-baltimores-felix-pie-a-trade-target-for-the-chicago-white-sox