The Orioles and GM Mike Elias are at a crossroads.
Do they put together a major trade to make a potential run to the World Series for the first time in 40 years? Or, does Elias stay the course and build internally to see how far these Baby Birds can fly?
It’s no secret the Orioles need another starting pitcher and support in the bullpen for the stretch run in August and September.
However, Elias might be hesitant to part with the top prospects who have already led to the team’s success this season.
Entering an off day on July 27, the Orioles are 62-40 and lead the Rays by 1.5 games for first place in the AL East.
The Orioles could mainly use another starting pitcher because of the workload of the pitchers in the current rotation.
Tyler Wells (7-5) has already set a career high with 111 innings pitched. He may be starting to show signs of fatigue, as he has thrown fewer than five innings in his past two starts. While he has a career-best 3.65 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 110:30 strikeout-to-walk ratio, manager Brandon Hyde will keep a close eye on him for the remainder of the season.
Dean Kremer (10-4, 4.59 ERA) has thrown 115.2 innings this season, 10 innings shy of his career high (125.1), set last year.
Kyle Bradish (6-6, 3.29 ERA) has emerged as one the Orioles’ most reliable starters, but he did struggle in his July 26 start against the Phillies, allowing five runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings. He has thrown 104 innings so far this season, not far off his mark of 117.2 last season. Bradish has not shown any signs of slowing down.
Of course, Grayson Rodriguez (2-2, 6.91 ERA) spent time in the minors but the Orioles will also look to monitor his innings during the final two months of the season. Rodriguez is the crown jewel of the club’s pitching prospects and has thrown 56 innings in the majors this season.
As a result, the Orioles could be in the hunt for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Some of the intriguing names are the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman and the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty, but Lucas Giolito is off the board to the Angels.
However, the Orioles would have to part with some of the key prospects to land one of those pitchers.
A wild card is John Means, who could return to the rotation by September to add support to the staff. Means was on his way back from Tommy John surgery when he developed a back injury in late May, which set him back.
Injuries Mount
Some of the Orioles’ success can be attributed to their ability to mostly stay healthy this season.
However, the team is dealing with a spate of new injuries.
Infielder Gunnar Henderson became the latest player to leave a game because of an injury. He dealt with some lower back discomfort on July 25 against the Phillies. Henderson also missed two games in early June with a similar back injury, but he is expected to be back in the lineup this weekend against the Yankees.
The outfield is a bigger concern.
Aaron Hicks was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 25 for a left hamstring strain. The Orioles recalled Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk for depth as a result. Hicks is batting .252/.349/.435 in 152 plate appearances for the Orioles after being released by the Yankees.
Hicks has played mostly in center field with Cedric Mullins also dealing with a right groin strain since late May. Mullins was reinstated from the IL in late June but was sidelined again with the same injury in mid-July. Mullins is one of the team’s most productive players but these recent injuries have been troublesome.
However, the recent absences of Hicks and Mullins have opened the door for Colton Cowser, who is still finding his footing as a major leaguer. Cowser is slashing .122/.302/.146 in 53 plate appearances but his ceiling remains high.
Fellow outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander have been steady contributors. In addition to McKenna, Adam Frazier and Ryan O’Hearn are also capable of playing in the outfield.
Still, Elias might have to consider adding another outfielder for the stretch run, but he likely will not be trading any key prospects for one. However, a player like Cody Bellinger, a productive left-handed hitter for the Cubs, could be enticing.
Help For The Bullpen
The Orioles’ bullpen is beginning to show some wear and tear as the team prepares for the final two months of the season.
Outside of Félix Bautista, who is a Cy Young Award candidate with 28 saves and strikeout rate at 17.6 per nine innings, the rest of the bullpen has been largely inconsistent.
Next to Bautista, Mike Baumann has been the Orioles most reliable reliever over the past several weeks and is 7-0 — one victory away from tying Grant Jackson’s club relief record that was set in 1973. Baumann also has a 3.47 ERA with 52 strikeouts and a 1.26 WHIP in 45 games (49.1 innings).
Yennier Cano was named to the American League All-Star team earlier this month, but he allowed two runs in the ninth-inning to give the Phillies a 4-3 victory on June 25. The Orioles are going to need Cano to bounce back this weekend against the Yankees.
In addition, Danny Coulombe and Bryan Baker have also had their struggles at times.
Dillon Tate (forearm) and Mychal Givens (shoulder) are on the 60-day IL and they might not factor into this season.
The Orioles did trade for right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, but there are questions still surrounding his command. After some struggles in his first two relief appearances, Fujinami looked solid in Philadelphia on July 25.
As it stands, the Orioles could use some middle-relief support. The Orioles have been linked to Liam Hendriks of the White Sox and Josh Hader of the Padres, but how much is Elias willing to give up in a trade?
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles