The Baltimore Orioles have the potential to dominate this trade deadline.
With a wealth of top prospects, they could assemble a package to acquire almost any player they desire for the second half of the season and beyond.
Just a month ago, there wasn’t much urgency for such moves, despite three season-ending surgeries in their rotation. Their offense was so dominant that it seemed they could simply add some rental arms to secure a playoff spot, relying on Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez to lead their rotation.
How quickly things change in this sport.
The Orioles have shown some vulnerability, compiling a 9-12 record in July, prompting fans to call for high-profile acquisitions to transform the roster into a World Series contender.
So far, general manager Mike Elias has not made those big moves.
They added Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays, providing a reliable starter, but it wasn’t a move that thrilled fans. They also traded Austin Hays for reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache, both of whom have struggled this season.
With a few days left before the July 30 deadline, it’s unclear if a significant move is forthcoming.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on potential targets, indicating the front office is considering outfielders.
“They want to add a reliever, preferably left-handed, a right-handed hitting outfielder to replace Austin Hays, and maybe another starting pitcher,” he writes. “A role player like Tommy Pham or Kevin Pillar would help provide greater balance.”
It appears the Orioles will remain active but may not pursue the blockbuster addition they could afford based on their prospect capital.
Tommy Pham and Kevin Pillar are solid players, but not game-changers.
Baltimore remains a team to watch in the coming days as they try to solidify their roster. Whether they can make the headline-grabbing move fans hope for remains to be seen.
