The Orioles are adding to their infield depth, acquiring Blaze Alexander from the D-backs in exchange for right-hander Kade Strowd, Minor League RHP Wellington Aracena and Minor League INF José Mejía, sources told MLB.com on Thursday. The clubs have not confirmed the move.
The 26-year-old Alexander, who was ranked as the D-backs’ No. 20 prospect as recently as 2024, has experience around the infield, but spent most of his time at third base with Arizona. He was bumped down the depth chart when the D-backs traded for 10-time Gold Glover Nolan Arenado.
Alexander appeared in 74 games for the D-backs last season, recording a .706 OPS with seven homers, 28 RBIs and four stolen bases. Baltimore has starters in place around the infield with Jackson Holliday at second, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop and Jordan Westburg at third, but Alexander can be a backup at all three positions. He ranked in the 70th percentile of fielders in 2025 with +1 OAA (outs above average) and in the 86th percentile of sprint speed at 28.8 feet per second (30 ft/sec is considered elite).
Strowd made his big league debut for Baltimore in 2025 and was solid out of the bullpen with a 1.71 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 25 appearances. Aracena was ranked No. 26 on the O’s Top 30 prospects list in 2025, according to MLB Pipeline.
