One-time can’t-miss prospect Felix Pie’s frustrating tenure with the Cubs came to a close Sunday, as the outfielder was dealt to the Orioles for left-hander Garrett Olson. Although this hardly qualifies as a blockbuster, I think there are a couple interesting points to consider.

In regards to which team “wins” this trade, it’s certainly a wash in terms of performance thus far for each player — they’ve been equally terrible — but the Orioles probably have the edge based solely on potential upside. O’s president of baseball operations (formerly of the Cubs) Andy MacPhail is aware that his team is a long way from contention with the newly anointed powerhouse Rays, steady Blue Jays, and dominant Yankees and Red Sox, and thus is rebuilding the dormant Baltimore franchise accordingly. Why not take a risk on a young (this will be Pie’s age 24 season) prospect with high upside? Pie will likely join Adam Jones and Nick Markakis in the outfield, with Luke Scott slotting in at DH and Aubrey Huff playing first base.

Curiously, the Cubs felt Pie didn’t fit into their plans after the signing of free-agent outfielder Joey Gathright. Pie likely could have provided the same production as Gathright (who will be a fourth outfielder) with the chance of still developing into a better player.

As for Olson, MacPhail’s willingness to part with him despite the O’s thinness at the position might tell us all we need to know. In his story, O’s beat reporter Spencer Fordin says Olson could be flipped again this offseason:

Olson, a former second-round Draft pick, may not be long for Chicago.
Rumors have consistently pointed the Cubs toward a trade with San Diego
for ace Jake Peavy, and the Padres reportedly covet young pitching.
That could mean that Olson, a native of Fresno, Calif., could end up
traded twice and living a whole lot closer to home.

If so, this deal would make a heck of a lot more sense for the Cubbies. If not, their strange offseason continues.

Perhaps I’m being tough on Olson, but I had the misfortune of producing this miserable doubleheader in 2008. In Game 2 of that twin bill, Olson lasted two-thirds of a frame before being yanked. Doubleheaders are hard enough to produce for their sheer length; 8 1/3 innings of relief tends to extend games.