The Baltimore Orioles season just started and the club is already dealing with a myriad of injuries. However, even with a thinner roster than usual, the team is reportedly shopping one of its longest-tenured starters before April even arrives.
Baltimore still has a fairly significant amount of hitting depth, in part thanks to a pool of top prospects either with MLB experience or on the doorstep of making their major-league debut. However, with only nine lineup spots, the team is starting to explore trade options to create a vacancy as soon as possible.
According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the Orioles have informed teams they are willing to trade first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. While he’s been a productive part of Baltimore’s lineup in recent years, the team wants to open up a spot for top prospect Coby Mayo.
- Ryan Mountcastle stats 2024 (ESPN): .271/.308/.425, .733 OPS, 13 home runs, 30 doubles, 63 RBI
Mountcastle, age 28, has been a central part of the Orioles lineup over the last four seasons. While he’s never replicated his 2021 success – 33 home runs, 89 RBI and a .796 OPS – he’s responsible for a .263/.313/.432 triple-slash line with a .745 OPS over the last three seasons.
Mayo is widely considered one of the best MLB prospects in 2025. He entered the season rated by MLB.com as the 14th-best prospect in baseball. The 6-foot-4 corner infielder made his MLB debut last season, going 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts and a .098/.196/.098 line with a .293 OPS.
Baltimore is now confident that Mayo’s right-handed bat is ready for major league pitching with a high confidence level that he can offer more upside at the plate than Mountcastle. While a deal isn’t imminent, Baltimore’s willingness to make a deal this early suggests we won’t have to wait until the summer for a move.
