A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team.
SEATTLE PILOTS ACQUIRE 1B KENT HRBEK FROM BALTIMORE ORIOLES FOR LF BUTCH HUSKEY
Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to go all-in on experience—and when to cut bait on upside.
The Seattle Pilots, fresh off a 1995 campaign in which they missed the playoffs, make a calculated move by acquiring veteran slugger Kent Hrbek from the Baltimore Orioles. At age 35, Hrbek is no longer the MVP candidate he was a decade ago, but his 1995 numbers (.257/.323/.467 with 32 HR and 112 RBI) prove he’s still got plenty left in the tank—particularly against right-handed pitching (.272/.338/.498).
In return, the Pilots give up 23-year-old corner outfielder Butch Huskey, a high-variance bat who mashed 31 homers in 1995 but did so while slashing an ugly .217/.254 with 118 strikeouts in 125 games. Huskey’s raw power is real—but so are the holes in his swing.
“Huskey looks like a player, but he’s not playing like one,” said one FL GM. “He’s a quad-A guy until he proves he can lay off breaking balls.”
Seattle’s hope is that Hrbek can be more than just a statline. He brings 448 career home runs, a .256/.331/.449 slash line, and nearly 50 WAR across 15 full seasons—all with Baltimore. The former Gold Glove first baseman still grades out well defensively (career .992 fielding percentage, +41.8 zone rating), and in 1995, he ranked among the league leaders in RBI (7th), sacrifice flies (1st), and slugging with runners in scoring position (.491).
The Pilots don’t need Hrbek to be a superstar—they need him to be a stabilizer. He posted a .321/.403/.607 line in close-and-late situations in 1995 and drove in 78 runs with men in scoring position. He’s the kind of hitter who turns a 2–1 loss into a 4–2 win with one well-timed opposite-field double.
With new ownership in Baltimore, they move on from a fan favorite, but necessary as they don’t plan on competing next year. If Huskey pans out, he gives them a cost-controlled power bat who could thrive at DH. If not, they’ve cleared the decks for a rebuild.
“This is about sending a message,” said one rival front office official. “Seattle’s saying: enough waiting around. Let’s win a few 5–4 games instead of losing 3–2 heartbreakers.”
Verdict: A sensible move by Seattle—adding 448 career homers, 13 postseason dingers, and 15 years of big-league grind to a team sorely lacking identity. Hrbek won’t be an MVP again, but he might help someone else become one. Baltimore gets younger and cheaper, and maybe, just maybe, catches lightning in a bottle.