Orioles were on verge of shocking trade before deadline passed
The MLB trade deadline figured to be an important moment in Mike Elias’ tenure as general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, and it wasn’t exactly the home-run swing that many fans were hoping for.
As expected, the Orioles moved their rental players, but the long-term plan for the team to return to contention remains very much in question.
As is typical for this time in August, insiders are spilling the tea on deals that approached the finish line as the deadline was nearing but failed to be completed in time.
One of those deals included the Baltimore Orioles, who were reportedly pushing for a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Mitch Keller.
Keller was part of a larger trend that developed at the deadline; controllable starting pitchers weren’t on the move. Keller, Miami Marlins’ starting pitchers Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, and MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals were the most-rumored starting pitchers to be on the move ahead of the deadline.
None of those pitchers were traded, with their respective teams having a high asking price.
Orioles came close to pulling off shocking MLB trade deadline deal
There was some speculation that the Orioles may check in on Alcantara, but the same logic would also apply to Keller. Keller is under contract through the 2028 season, and would have crossed off the primary item on the Orioles’ shopping list this offseason.
The Orioles have needed help at the top of their starting rotation since Corbin Burnes elected to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and avoiding that need has led to Elias’ approval rating sinking.
In light of Grayson Rodriguez’s latest injury setback, avoiding the starting pitching market simply can’t be an option this offseason.
If the Pirates make Keller available this offseason, chances are the Orioles will revisit their interest.
The two teams match up well on a potential deal, considering the plethora of Major League-ready bats the Orioles have. Of course, that would signal Elias showing a level of urgency he lacked last offseason.
