Orioles Acquire Christian Encarnacion-Strand From Reds as Mountcastle Hits 60-Day IL

Baltimore trades for Encarnacion-Strand
 

Encarnacion-Strand joins the Orioles as bench depth behind Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo. Mountcastle sidelined with fractured foot, has $7.5M option for 2026.  

Baltimore adds infield depth, trading for Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Mountcastle heads to the 60-day IL. Orioles lead AL East at 8-7 entering Monday...

The Baltimore Orioles traded for infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand after placing Ryan Mountcastle on the 60-day IL.

The Baltimore Orioles acquired infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for cash considerations.

Encarnacion-Strand, 26, has two home runs and eight RBIs with a .222 batting average over 10 games in Triple-A this season. He posted six home runs and 19 RBIs in 36 games with the Reds last season.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand's first career hit is a pinch-hit homer and gives the @Reds the lead! pic.twitter.com/DrGNvnX0yc

— MLB (@MLB) July 19, 2023

Since debuting in 2023, Encarnacion-Strand has yet to appear in more than 65 games in an MLB season.

He will slot into a bench role behind Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso and young third baseman Coby Mayo. Ryan Mountcastle, meanwhile, heads to the 60-day injured list with a fractured foot.

He recorded four hits in 14 at-bats (.286 BA) with a double and an RBI across eight games this season for the O’s, the only club he’s played for in his seven-year career. Mountcastle has a $7.5 million club option for next season before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

The #Reds today traded IF Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations.

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 13, 2026

Baltimore leads the American League East at 8-7 heading into Monday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, while the Reds sit second in the National League Central at 9-7.