Jordan Westburg’s path in Baltimore has gone from central piece to awkward fit, and the Orioles may be heading toward the cleanest answer of all: a trade.
That was hard to imagine two seasons ago, when the former first-round pick looked like he was settling in as part of the Orioles’ young core. He made the All-Star team in 2024, then followed that up with another strong season in 2025 despite being limited to 85 games by injuries. Then came the setback that wiped out his 2026 season entirely, after a UCL sprain in his right arm led to Tommy John surgery.
While Westburg was sidelined, Baltimore’s infield picture changed fast. The Orioles found two options at third base in Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Coby Mayo, and both made their case in different ways.
Mayo showed he could crush left-handed pitching, while Encarnacion-Strand impressed enough with his play to lock himself into next season’s roster. Mayo’s prospect status also means he should get plenty of runway.
The addition of Pete Alonso only makes the squeeze tighter, since Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand might have been able to share time at first base, but that spot is now spoken for.
Second base is crowded too. That was a position Westburg split time at during his All-Star season, but Jackson Holliday is there now, and Baltimore still appears committed to giving him plenty of chances even with his struggles and a leash that may be shortening. Blaze Alexander adds another layer, since he can handle both second and third.
So when Westburg is expected back early in the 2027 season, the Orioles may simply not have a clear place to put him.
That is why the speculation has pointed in one direction. As MLB Trade Rumors noted, moving Westburg looks like the logical route.
It would be a sell-low deal after he missed the entire season, but he still brings plenty to the table. He has been an above-average hitter over his three big league seasons, he can move around the infield, and he already has an All-Star nod on his résumé.
Even without peak value, he should still draw real interest and could headline a return.
There is also precedent for this kind of move in Baltimore. Mike Elias has already used trades to clear crowded spots, with the Trevor Rogers deal opening room in the outfield and the Adley Rutschman trade making more playing time available for Samuel Basallo, as MLB Trade Rumors pointed out. Given where the roster stands now, having a useful name to move this winter could be a major asset.
It would be a tough ending for Westburg in an Orioles uniform. He looked like he had a real future there, and for a while, it seemed like he would be a steady part of the club for years. But the roster has moved on around him, and the smartest play may be turning that value into help somewhere else rather than trying to jam too many pieces into the same lineup.
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