It is safe to say that not many (if any) had the Baltimore Orioles over .500 in the middle of July on their bingo cards, but yet here are and how great it is! Birdland is buzzing with the team playing winning baseball way ahead of the anticipated schedule. A schedule that has seemed like a lifetime waiting to get back to the postseason and back to the winning culture we seen a decade ago.
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 the streak and some possible candidates that fate may still hang in the balance come Trade Deadline.
The Orioles Have Not Lost a Game Since July 2nd!
How fun is that to read!?
A team that is only a half season removed from 110 losses is now on pace for 83 wins. Incredible. However, 83 wins will not get you into the post season, especially when you are still in last place in your division, as the AL East is the ONLY division that currently does not possess a losing record. The AL East has not had this happen this late in the season since 2012!
So, do the Orioles make a push for it and try to get over a team or two in the American League to secure a Wildcard Spot? Some Signs are pointing in that direction, but Mike Elias is not known to deviate from the overall plan.
We saw it with the slow call up of Adley Rutschman and currently with D.L. Hall (who has nothing left to prove in Triple-A). However, since the promotion of the Orioles Top Prospect and future corner stone piece, Baltimore have been the 7th best team in baseball record wise. Since Adley Rutschman debuted May 21, the Orioles are 29-20, the same record that the current leaders of the NL East New York Mets possess in the same time period, and better than two division rivals The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. The main question that has swirled around the city of Baltimore is if this recent and unexpected winning streak has changed the thought process of the suits in Camden Yards.
There may be a few signs that could lead us to the right answer.
Trade Questions Must Start with Trey
It’s clear that if the Orioles decide to be in Selling Mode Trey Mancini will be the one that tells us so. Trey, who was in possible trade talks last trade deadline again has had his name appear a few times over the past few weeks citing a possible departure with the team that drafted him in 2013.
Since then, Mancini had a rookie year no one would ever forget in 2016 and has become the clubhouse veteran and leader throughout this rebuild. Even through his absence in 2020 when Mancini opt’d out due to him dealing with Stage 3 Colon Cancer, Trey has always been seen as a leader of this squad.
The 2021 American League Comeback Player of the Year would bring a huge heartbreak to the majority of the Orioles fanbase if he is shipped out before the August 2nd Deadline, so why do it? Both sides of the fence will definitely have to be looked at if you are the Orioles front office. A clubhouse leader, who is having a great season himself and helping his team move into playoff position, but a player who is aging and in a contract year and most likely not in the plans for Elias and his rebuild.
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.
If you move Mancini, does the Season become a wash? It doesn’t have to be.
Since Mancini is in a contract year, 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).
With that being said, just because Mancini may be moved doesn’t mean the Orioles could find his replacement elsewhere before the deadline is over. They could do this without ruining the overall blueprint as well.
Will the Outfield Stick Together Past August?
At the beginning of the season, it almost seemed inevitable that at least one of the top-3 outfielders would be on the move come the trade deadline. With talk circulating in the offseason that Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, and Anthony Santander had all been in some sort of trade rumor, it was hard to ignore the fact that it may actually happen. Add in the impressive play by some of the minor league outfielders such as Kyle Stowers and the case to move one of them keeps growing.
But this winning streak has changed the way this outfield is being valued, at least for Hays and Mullins. 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
Anthony Santander could see a larger market than Mancini as he is having a better year statistically and is a better defender. However, the same teams such as the Yankees, Mets or Padres could be in the mix for him.
A Big Target Rumored for Birdland
If anyone has PTSD from the Correa rumors this offseason when someone says “Rumored for Birdland” I don’t blame you, but this one seems to have some traction. However, lately talk has swirled social media about the possibility of a top arm joining the Orioles before the August 2nd deadline, Cincinnati Reds Luis Castillo.
Thats right, the team has checked in on one of the best right handers that could be dealt before the deadline. To be fair, he could fit the bill not only for the possibility of a magical run this season but moving forward to fully get the rebuild unburied from its past dreadful regimes. The Orioles could provide the best package for Luis Castillo in terms of what the Reds need. Not saying they would necessarily have to “give up the farm” (we will get into that in a little bit).
Castillo could help the Orioles keep their magic going this season and is under control for next year. Meaning, he could be an asset moving forward, someone controllable for the true and original start to the gameplan, something Elias would truly enjoy. With the controllable contract becoming his best asset, The Orioles could extend Castillo ahead of his last arbitration year and continue to have him on the roster with other top promising arms such as Grayson Rodriguez, D.L. Hall and Kyle Bradish (Not the mention the 2023 return of John Means).
Pieces that Could Move Regardless
If you look at this Roster as it stands now, who is the names that you KNOW will not be part of the rebuild? Do names like Rougned Odor and Jordan Lyles ring a bell? These two could find a new home by August in return for a prospect or two to strengthen the lower levels of the minor league system.
Jordan Lyles has done exactly what Mike Elias and Brandon Hyde could of imagined in the first half of the season for the Orioles, and that’s eat innings.
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. 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.
One last guy that could be moved is veteran Robinson Chirinos. The long time, 38-year-old catcher has been fantastic in his new role as mentoring Adley Rutschman, but his ERA when behind the plate is the worse out of all three catchers the Orioles have had this season (Chirinos, Bemboom, Rutschman). The catching position is ALWAYS a hot commodity around this time, and he could help bring in a prospect to help a later wave to help the Orioles battle the AL East in years to come.
What Does this Mean for the Farm?
Well as I stated early, if the Orioles decide to actually add this trade deadline, the “give up the farm” would not truly come into play in Baltimore. Why is that? This system is too stacked to break it down in only one deadline.
So, what I’m getting to is that the Orioles CAN afford to move a prospect or two to strengthen the major league roster AND still have one of the best systems in all of baseball. I think we may see some of this magic happen before August 2nd.
If players like Trey Mancini or Anthony Santander move, this opens a prime spot for Kyle Stowers to step in and take more at bats as the Designated Hitter, a great substitution in my humble opinion. Guys like Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg are also not far off as well and will eventually see the majors this season IF some players are dealt and room on the 40-man roster is made. The same case could also be made for infielder Terrin Vavra.
If an arm is moved like Jordan Lyles, then we could FINALLY see D.L. Hall in the majors (if we don’t beforehand). It is an understatement saying that Hall has anything left to prove at any minor league level and is ready to solidify his spot within the rotation. Some fresh arms will need to arrive if Lyles departs as the Orioles would need to fill up a large chunk of innings pitched during the second half of the season. Something Lyles was brought here to do and has done so effectively.
So, You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance…
“I’d say BETTER THAN more like one out of a million.” (Thanks Lloyd)
The Orioles ABSOLUTELY have the means and talent to take this team into October. Although it is safe to say that the engines will eventually cool on the Birdland Express, Brandon Hyde and Company have shown they know how to win ball games in tough moments. If the Baltimore Front Office gives this team a little more fire power to compete with the rest of the AL East to sneak into one of the three wildcard spots, then we could have already passed the Rebuilding Station and are on the fast train The O’s competitive window.
What are your Thoughts?
Be sure to let us know on SlasherSports.com. Slasher Sports is available Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Slasher Drip
Get your Slasher Sports swag and show everyone you’re here to KILL the game! As always, choke up on the bat……..and stay alive!
