Based on how the MLB offseason has shaken out up to this point, it’s become more clear that if the Baltimore Orioles want to replace the void at the top of their rotation left by Corbin Burnes, they are going to need to fill that void via trade.

The longer Corbin Burnes remains on the market, the more hopeful I become of Burnes returning to Birdland.

But let’s assume he ends up where many expect him to end up, on the west coast, and the Orioles are forced to turn to the trade market to acquire a top of the rotation arm.

Even after moving a number of top prospects at the 2024 trade deadline, the Orioles still possess a deep and uber-talented farm system, deep enough to acquire any arm they covet.

We also know that Mike Elias is hesitant to trade his top-ranked prospects, which isn’t unique among MLB general managers in today’s game.

However, the Orioles are stacked at a couple of different positions down on the farm, giving the organization plenty of ammo to pull off a trade with, without greatly hurting the pipeline.

Here are two Orioles prospects who should be “untouchable” this offseason, and two who shouldn’t be
Catching prospect Samuel Basallo is the obvious choice here.

After hitting 16 home runs with an .820 OPS and a whopping 134 wRC+ in Double-A, Basallo ended 2024 in Triple-A at just 19 years of age.

His numbers in Norfolk across a very small sample weren’t great, but they are pretty much irrelevant. The fact that the 19-year-old backstop earned himself a promotion to Triple-A to get his feet wet there ahead of the 2025 season is the real accomplishment.

One of the more fun stats from Basallo’s 2024 season? His stat line against pitchers younger than him – it doesn’t exist. All 532 plate appearances came against older pitchers.

Basallo’s work to improve defensively has been described as “cerebral” and internally, the organization has been very pleased with his defensive work. With Adley Rutschman on the big league roster, Basallo won’t be needed to spend a large amount of time at the catching position though.

He’s also played an extensive amount of first base recently and has shown off sneaky athleticism at the position.

Basallo’s value comes in his bat. In a recent conversation with MLB veteran Niko Goodrum, Goodrum told me that Basallo reminds him of a young Yordan Alvarez. Goodrum played with Alvarez in Houston and was teammates with Basallo in Norfolk this season. High praise from someone who has been around the game for a long time.

The other “untouchable right now is outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. Most would probably say it’s infielder Coby Mayo, but let’s get a little different here.

Bradfield’s plus-plus defense and speed are major league quality tools, and could benefit the Orioles in the big leagues come playoff time should Jorge Mateo not be around, for whatever reason. Cedric Mullins may not be in Baltimore for much longer and the Orioles have what appears to be a more than competent heir waiting in the wings in Bradfield.

There’s still a way to go with his bat, but if Bradfield can be just a league-average bat in the big leagues, he’s a bonafide All-Star with his defensive abilities and base stealing ability. After returning from a concussion while in High-A, Bradfield’s offensive game started to reach a new level in 2024.

Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Coby Mayo just homered back-to-back 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ei2dOzl2qX

— Orioles Player Development (@OsPlayerDev) June 14, 2024
He ended the year with 27 games at the Double-A level where Bradfield hit .287 with a 133 wRC+, a 12.5% walk rate and an 11.7% strikeout rate. The organization was impressed with his quality of contact and swing decisions down the stretch.

Bradfield could eventually be moved in a deal or challenged down the road by a Vance Honeycutt/Jud Fabian/Dylan Beavers/or Austin Overn breakout, but the Orioles don’t need to move on from Bradfield THIS offseason, making him currently “untouchable”. With more development to go in his bat, they could also potentially be selling low on Bradfield if a move is made now.

These two Orioles prospects could be used as trade chips this winter

When it comes to prospects who shouldn’t be untouchable, RHP Chayce McDermott is one. The 26-year-old logged 100 innings in Triple-A last season, posting a 3.78 ERA with a very impressive 33% strikeout rate.

He looked to be turning a corner when it comes to his high walk rate at the beginning of the season, but McDermott ended up with a 13.7% walk rate in 2024, a couple of ticks higher than his 11.7% walk rate during his time in Triple-A back in 2023.

When McDermott is in the strike zone, his stuff is virtually unhittable and it’s without a doubt some of the best stuff in the entire organization.

As long as he remains in the organization, he will continue to be worked as a starter, but McDermott’s long-term future is likely in the bullpen. With a fastball that he can run into the upper-90s in a relief role and multiple above-average secondary offerings, McDermott could be a gem out of the bullpen, but he could also be valuable as a trade piece for an ace to an organization who views him as a potential starter.

Last year’s first round draft pick, outfielder Vance Honeycutt, could be another potential trade piece this offseason. While the organization would likely prefer to keep Honeycutt to see if the bat can come around, if another organization is willing to deal a front-line starter for a near major league starter in McDermott and a potential five-tool center fielder in Honeycutt, neither should be untouchable.

FLASH THE LEATHER✨

Vance Honeycutt shows off the 70-grade fielding as he takes away extras bases to end the inning!

IronBirds trail 2-0 in the 3rd pic.twitter.com/ai0VWA3kGa

— Aberdeen IronBirds (@IronBirds) September 8, 2024

The Orioles quickly moved on from 2023 draft picks Mac Horvath (2nd round), Jackson Baumeister (Competitive Balance B round), and Matthew Etzel (10th round) to acquire Zach Eflin at this year’s trade deadline, which proved Elias wasn’t opposed to moving highly-ranked prospects who they just invested heavy draft capital in.

With Bradfield, Fabian, and Overn in the org and Colton Cowser’s ability to slide over to center field if needed, Honeycutt’s upside is extremely promising, but so are the upsides of each of the players previously mentioned.

The tricky thing about Honeycutt is knowing just how many other teams have him as highly rated as the Orioles do. Honeycutt was seen as a potential first overall pick last year, but extreme swing and miss issues and questions about his hit tool led his stock to drop and him remaining available 22nd overall in the 2024 draft.

No prospect should be truly untouchable, but for this offseason in particular, the Orioles would be wise to keep Samuel Basallo and Enrique Bradfield Jr in the organization. On the flip side, if they can acquire an ace for top prospects like Chayce McDermott or Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles should absolutely be on board moving these prospects.