The Orioles trade deadline is still up in the air with a week to go. Baltimore sits at a disappointing 52-55 record, burying them 11 games behind the division-leading Rays but leaving them just two games out of the AL Wild Card chase. They face a similarly disappointing Tigers club right now before hosting the 57-50 Phillies in their final three preseason games.
Baltimore can move rental properties like Taylor Ward again Trevor Rogers if they slide down further, or they can string together a few wins and make modest additions to bolster those Wild Card hopes. Given their position in the organization’s broader landscape, it is unlikely that they will become key salespeople. They seem to lay the groundwork for several possible discussions, however; ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (video link, specifically at the 24:55 mark) that they’ve talked to other clubs about the second baseman. Jackson Holidayforeign player Colton Cowser and the hunter Adley Rutschman. The latter is listed as injured on the sidelines Samuel Basallo. Both catchers being held makes it difficult to see the O’s moving on from Rutschman, who is held until 2027. An offseason deal — if Rutschman is traded at all — feels very real.
Holliday would be a very attractive trade candidate, although it is possible that the discussions surrounding him are merely a matter of caution. The 22-year-old was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft and was the No. 1 prospect in baseball before his major league debut. He hasn’t reached that high pay yet, but Holliday won’t turn 23 until the offseason and is enjoying a career-best career at the plate. In 55 games and 178 plate appearances, he is hitting .243/.354/.392 with a career-best 15.2% walk rate.
It’s not the scariest batting line you’ll see, but Holliday’s season started with a long layoff due to a hamstring fracture he suffered during spring training. Other obstacles delayed his season debut in mid-May. Holiday hit well early on before struggling for much of June. Hamate fractures often have a lasting effect on a hitter’s performance, but Holliday has looked much better of late. Over the past three weeks, he’s made 50 plate appearances and turned in a ridiculous .410/.520/.487 slash with more walks (10) than strikeouts (8). He won’t catch this speed, but Holliday sees the ball well. His chase rate on pitches outside of the strike zone during this blistering span averaged 16.3%.
The Orioles control Holliday for four years except for the current season. He’s yet to reach his projection before his major league debut, but the asking price will still be too high given his demeanor and control. Clubs in need of help in multiple areas of the infield could still try to make a push, but the O’s won’t feel pressured to settle for anything shy of a significant return. Holliday played primarily second base as an Oriole but has experience at both shortstop and third base. Moving him now would be a low sell, but if the team is willing to pay for that increase in some manageable starting price, maybe the O’s would at least consider it. They have it Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz again Dean Kremer signed/controlled beyond the current season but little certainty otherwise, and Kremer is only controlled through 2027.
The O’s don’t have a clear successor at second base if they surprisingly choose to move Holliday. Jeremiah JacksonThe BABIP-driven 2025 exhibition has opened with a bleak .248/.268/.393 in the larger sample this year. Baltimore’s system isn’t very deep in pitchers — at least not in the top minors. If the O’s are convinced of that Coby Mayo can handle third base, and it changes Jordan Westburg to second base next year might make some sense, hypothetically. (Of course, throwing from second would be easier on his surgically repaired right elbow than throwing to his hot corner.) Utilityman Blaze Alexander you can meet, and there will be several options available in free agency (eg Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, Brandon Lowe).
Cowser facilitates natural trading. Baltimore can control him for three more years, through 2029, but he’s had mixed bags at major positions. Back in 2024, Cowser looked like a building block, hitting .242/.321/.447 with 24 homers and nine steals while also playing left field defense (in addition to briefer stints in center field and right field). That year’s 30.4% strikeout rate was a red flag, however, and in 2025 Cowser’s questionable hit tool reached its breaking point. He played in nearly 36% of the games while hitting just .196/.269/.385.
The 2026 season has not been so exciting. Cowser struggled in April, burned out in May, and now has seen his offense come to an end once again. He is hitting .207/.315/.332 overall but just .156/.303/.222 in his past 109 trips to the plate. Cowser has played more of a middle position this season and has performed well there (4 Defensive Runs Saved, 4 Outs Above Average) after posting low marks in previous seasons.
A good portion of Cowser’s struggles at the plate in the majors have come with lefties. He’s not a hitter against righties, granted, but his .219/.312/.402 (103 wRC+) batting line is serviceable. Against southpaws, he only compiled a .200/.270/.349 line. Whether you’re in Baltimore or elsewhere, you’re best served in a team environment.
Still just 26 years old, Cowser is still the No. 5 pick and top prospect. He has not reached glory or established himself as a normal person. As with Holliday however, the other club can still place a bet if they feel something is wrong. He has above average speed and a composed arm. Statcast tends to praise his combine grade.
The Orioles aren’t deep at pitching, but they’ve got a middle-of-the-road offense. Dylan Beavers in a limited sample and have similar expectations And George, I’m Irish again Enrique Bradfield You go up through the ranks. Reed Trimble he’s a little old (26) to be a true prospect but he’s already on the 40-man roster and close to the big leagues. The IO’s will likely try to re-sign Ward (an incoming free agent and candidate if things go south next week), and free agency will include names like Randy Arozarena, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Trent Grisham, Daulton Varsho again Jake Bauers.
The discourses at this time of the year are wide and many. The Orioles discussing big additions like the dynamic Holliday or Cowser certainly aren’t worth any trades. At the same time, it’s also fair to say that Baltimore’s ballyhooed core of young players over the past several years has never been out and about. Players like Holliday, Cowser, Mayo and Beavers showed flashes but did not do it to their full potential. Westburg is usually tough but injury prone. Rutschman again Gunnar Henderson they have played like stars at times and “just” mediocre at others. IO’s hold on to some popular expectations (eg Heston Kjerstad, Kade Povich) and didn’t get much in the way of major league offers.
Whether the front office thinks this group can still be the core of a competitive club or feels that major image changes are needed will become clear in time. For now, the Orioles are doing what a team stuck in the middle of a mediocre AL playoff race should do: explore options on both buy/sell ends to lay the groundwork not just for deadline deals — but for other potential offseason deals if it’s determined that extensive changes are needed.
