9 Players That Could Find a New Home Come August 2nd
With the recent success of the club, a huge question continues to loom over the ball club. Will they, or won’t they be Sellers at the Trade Deadline. Will General Manager Mike Elias and his front office continue according to plan as we have seen for the past few years, or will August 2nd come and go as the “Turning Point” the franchise has desperately been waiting for. Let’s take a look at some possible candidates that may be moved at this season’s trade deadline.
9.) Cedric Mullins
Although these names are in no particular order, I started this list with Cedric Mullins because I believe out of all the names mentioned in this piece, he is the LEAST likely to be moved by Baltimore. However, I couldn’t completely rule him out. Mullins was outstanding last season, and this year is hitting par for the course (100 WRC+). He has been a league average bat, although giving the team immense help on the defensive side of things, helping him establish almost a 2 WAR so far on the year.
The reason I don’t see him moving is that the Orioles would have to sell lower than once anticipated for Cedric in the past, and I don’t see Mike Elias (GM of the Orioles) doing such to a team that has already matched it’s win total from 2019.
8.) Jordan Lyles
Jordan Lyles has done exactly what Mike Elias and Brandon Hyde could have imagined in the first half of the season for the Orioles, and that’s eat innings.
Jordan has a Club Option which would be $11M after this year, an option that would unlikely be picked up if kept with the Baltimore Organization. If Lyles was traded, he would be a perfect rental for a team making a push and want to protect arms down the stretch or even a back-end starter needed to carry them into late September. Currently with a 4.79 ERA, most of his struggles have been in his most recent starts, but he has shown reliable for the O’s as he has appeared every fifth day for the team. He showed towards the beginning of the season, that he can still provide quality starts even at 31 years old.
7.) Cionel Pérez
Cionel Perez would be a fantastic piece for any team’s bullpen looking to make a deep playoff push, but he may not be available to move. The Orioles Bullpen has been impressive this season and would not be shocked if an arm or two from that group is moved before next Tuesday’s deadline, but I throw serious doubt into Perez’s departure. The reason? He’s a lefty, and other than Nick Vespi, who has been great when he has been up on the Major League Roster the Orioles do not have any more southpaws in their current inventory. Perez is on this list because I believe has immense value that teams would love to get their hands on, but it would cost a decent sized package in order to see him go.
Perez (currently 1.35 ERA) has shown that for a lefty he can get both sides of the plate out, raising his value as a true full inning (possibly longer) reliever. He has a great fastball with speeds up to 97mph and a solid slider that has found impressive command this past season. Cionel has control, which not only current contenders would love to get a hold of as he is not set to hit free agency until 2026 or hit arbitration until 2024.
6.) Rougned Odor
Rougned Odor has also been quite a surprise for Birdland and although he has a vast amount of major league service time, he is only 28 years old. Can an upcoming free agent with only an 80 WRC+ have enough value for a team to make a move before August 2nd?
It is possible he could stick around for another contract with Baltimore, but with the farm system the way it is (infielders galore) I find it very unlikely. Odor could be seen in the front office to be holding up top prospects in the organization such as recently called up Terrin Vavra and Top 100 prospects Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson.
5.) Dillion Tate
Dillion Tate has shown incredible success this season after his great work in the offseason with Driveline. His 2.35 ERA has been impressive with this Baltimore Orioles bullpen. Could Tate be moved? This could be more likely than some of the other non-closers in the Baltimore pen. The reason why? His Control. But it’s not what you are thinking, he is not a pending free agent, he just has less control compared to others in this organization’s depth. Compared to most, Tate only has control until 2025 and is arbitration eligible after this season.
Tate could really fill any need role for a team’s bullpen, as he even has experience as the Orioles closer in the past. The value for Tate would most likely come best if he was packaged with another player to help bolster the bottom of the Orioles Farm system.
He has been reported to possibly be linked to a trade involving the New York Mets earlier this week.
4.) Keegan Akin
Keegan Akin may not be known well enough across the league to form a decent amount of trade buzz but he has been a great swing man for Orioles this season. With a 2.45 ERA (even with a tough July), Akin could be a nice sneaky good piece for a team needing an arm.
Akin is currently signed through 2026 so lots of control if he is moved, and he even has an option remaining this season.
Akin could be a bullpen piece or has potential to be moved back to a starter if needed. Just like Lyles, a great asset to save other arms into Late September.
3.) Anthony Santander
For Anthony Santander however, I believe there is still a large possibility that the former Rule-5 selection has a new home for the second half of the season.
“I’m just relaxed, just focusing on my day-to-day process, that’s a decision that comes from the people up above. Nothing that I can control.”
Anthony Santander (via interpreter Brandon Quinones) regarding trade deadline speculation
With a current 112 WRC+, improved walk rates this season, and leading team in HRs, Santander could be a great addition to a team looking for another bat in the middle of the lineup. Defense has been suspect lately in the corner outfields spots, so it may need to be looked at as a Designated Hitter position.
Although signed through 24′, the Orioles already have replacement players ready to take over if a move like Santander is made before the trade deadline. The depth like Kyle Stowers, who many believe will be a better player long-term than Santander already seems ready and could make this move more realistic.
2.) Jorge Lopez
To me, these next two almost seem inevitable. The 2022 All Star for the Orioles is resurrecting his career this season for all of Birdland to see. The Orioles Closer, who hasn’t had much success until this season has shown exactly why he represented the Orioles in Los Angeles just this past week. But what does his value measure up to when other teams attempt to make offers on a guy like Jorge Lopez? You may be surprised.
A top-end Closer, a current All-Star, a player with control (signed through 2024) and he may have to be packaged with another player to get a decent return? Yes. Why? Because no other seasons show he can continue the magic he has had this season for the Orioles.
But he still may be moved. The Orioles missed out on trading Cedric Mullins at his possible All-Star Peak last year, and Elias may not do it again and move Lopez. The Triple-A arm depth (especially for RHP) is immense, and the team will be able to fill his role with ease. It certainly would be a step back, but a decent sized return would make it worth it when those pieces are helping the Orioles truly compete in 2023 and beyond.
1.) Trey Mancini
Trey Mancini is the one that gets Birdland up in a stir on whether he should stay or go. Clearly a fan favorite and loved in the City of Baltimore, especially after he courageous public battle with Colon Cancer that had him miss the entire 2020 season.
Elias knows the tradeoffs, he talked about it in one of his latest press conferences. In order to move Mancini, it will need to carry a higher value now that the Orioles are not on pace to lose 100 games like anticipated. If the return can make the team better for 2023 and beyond since it is extremely likely both sides will mutually agree to part ways this offseason regardless, I say you pull the trigger on moving him. Some teams that have shown interest in Mancini have been both teams out of the Big Apple, the Yankees and Mets, however the package would really have to speak volume if he were to be traded in division.
Since Mancini is in a contract year, (Mutal Option in 2023, It will be declined, he will be a FA if he stays.) it may be smart to move him for some controllable assets to continue building the farm system that Mike Elias has down so well to replenish over the past few seasons. With the first wave of top end talent making, it’s way to the big leagues, it would be ideal to continue that for more waves to come (Think of the Cardinals, and how they ALWAYS seem to be in a competitive window).
Mancini is currently at a 113 WRC+. He is most known as a 1B/DH but could play outfield (not well).
Regardless, Have Faith in Elias
I’d like to think Elias traded Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser in Spring Training because he knew what he had with this bullpen group, thus making those guys expendable. If anyone gets moved in the next week I’m giving Elias the benefit of the doubt, especially with this successful bullpen.
If Mancini is moved, don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened. He was a great piece of Baltimore History in some of the darkest moments of this franchise’s history. Plus, if he’s traded, his trade piece can live on his legacy of talks of the “Player from the Mancini Trade.” Everyone always loves those.
What are your Thoughts?
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