The Orioles are sitting in one of those awkward midseason spots that can go either way in a hurry. They’re 49-52, 9.0 games out in the AL East and 3.0 back in the AL Wild Card, but a seven-game winning streak has kept them from looking like a team ready to wave the white flag.
That uncertainty is what makes Baltimore such a fascinating club heading toward the August 3 trade deadline. They could still push themselves into the postseason conversation and act like buyers.
Or they could slip further under .500 and become clear sellers. Right now, the question is still open.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is betting the Orioles stay the course with Taylor Ward, even though he’d draw plenty of interest around the league. That would be a frustrating outcome for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, but a positive sign for Baltimore supporters.
“Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles. This is the type of player the Orioles could get a handsome return for with the lack of power hitters on the market,” Nightengale writes.
"... Do they give up on him or believe he'll turn it around?
Prediction: Staying."
Ward’s season has been a little unusual by his standards. He owns a .748 OPS, but he’s not getting there with the kind of power numbers people usually expect from him. Instead, he leads the AL with 79 walks, already a career-high.
His slugging percentage sits at .361, a steep drop from last year’s .475. Even so, he’s still been useful for Baltimore, putting up 2.2 bWAR in 100 games.
That profile is exactly why he would appeal to teams looking for offense. Right-handed bats with even solid production don’t grow on trees, and Ward would fit that need for clubs such as the Phillies or Braves.
Still, Nightengale’s prediction is that Baltimore keeps him. If that happens, it likely means the Orioles have kept climbing and made Ward too important to move.
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Mike Elias May Be Facing His Riskiest Orioles Extension Call Yet
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Rogers recent run has given the Orioles something to think about, even if his overall 2026 performance still leaves plenty of room for debate on price and term. For Mike Elias, this is the kind of call that can shape both the rotation and the payroll picture, and it is one fans are already being asked to judge for themselves as the club tries to decide whether now is the right time to make a move. [Read more 🡒]
Where Adley Rutschman And Samuel Basallo Rank Among MLB Catchers
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Rutschmans place is especially worth watching because he has been working back from the injured list after some minor injury issues, which makes his standing a little more layered than a simple numbers check. Basallos rise adds another wrinkle for Baltimore, while the top of the list remains crowded with established producers, including Hunter Goodmans home run surge and William Contreras steady hit total, leaving the Orioles with a pair of names that are very much part of the larger catcher picture. [Read more 🡒]