It seems like the Baltimore Orioles are beginning to develop an obsession for Philadelphia Phillies players in recent times. After acquiring two of the Phillies' mainstay relievers, Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto, at the trade deadline, the Orioles have now recruited another former Phillie to join their organization.
On Aug. 9, Baltimore announced that they had signed veteran infielder Jean Segura to a minor league deal. This was certainly a surprising signing because Segura had been out of baseball for almost a year after his release by the Cleveland Guardians in August of 2023. In addition, it isn’t like the Orioles are in dire need of infield help even with Jordan Westburg out.
Former Phillies infielder Jean Segura lands with the Orioles
The Phillies faithful will remember Segura during his prime years with the team between 2019 and 2022. In those four seasons, he batted a .281 with a .755 OPS, 228 runs scored, 78 doubles, 43 home runs and 176 RBI in 427 games.
More importantly, he was known for his clutch hitting and smooth defense during his time with the Phillies. In particular, Segura was one of the team’s hottest hitters during the 2022 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. He hit a sizzling .462 with a 1.149 OPS, two doubles and three runs scored over four games to help the Phillies ultimately reach the World Series.
However, Segura eventually priced himself out of town despite being a fan favorite, as the Phillies were saving resources to make a huge splash during the 2022-23 offseason. They eventually did when they landed star shortstop Trea Turner on a huge 11-year, $300 million deal.
Segura joined the Miami Marlins for 2023 and endured his worst-ever season in the majors. He compiled a dismal .219 average and .556 OPS, with just 25 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI over 85 games played. Segura was later dealt to the Guardians at the trade deadline in exchange for Josh Bell and was subsequently released following the transaction.
With the Orioles, Segura will help provide some valuable infield depth for the organization. As he begins his quest once again to work his way back to the majors, we thank him again for all that he did for the Phillies and wish him all the best with Baltimore.