The Orioles got a reassuring update on Ryan Helsley, but it doesn’t change the reality around their bullpen: they still need help.
Helsley said the elbow pain that knocked him out again was caused by inflammation, not structural damage to his UCL. That matters because it means there’s no Tommy John surgery on the table. Instead, he’ll rest and work to get the inflammation down before trying to return this season.
That’s a much better outcome than the one many had feared when he went down with his second elbow-related injury of the year. Still, Baltimore can’t just sit and wait.
The last time Helsley missed time with elbow inflammation, he was out for six weeks, and the bullpen struggled without him. Tyler Wells has handled a few save chances in his absence, and Andrew Kittredge has picked up one as well, but both are better suited to setup work than being the guy in the ninth inning every night.
That makes the trade deadline a natural place for the Orioles to keep hunting for relief help.
They’ve already made one move to add depth. This morning, Baltimore traded cash for Cam Sanders, a 29-year-old minor league veteran the Pirates designated for assignment two days ago to clear space for Jacob Gonzalez, whom they acquired to cover for an injured Konnor Griffin.
Sanders has been grinding through the minors for eight years and has gotten only brief looks in the majors with Pittsburgh, both this season and last. Those opportunities haven’t gone well, and his career 8.44 ERA tells that story plainly.
Even so, there are some reasons the Orioles are taking a look. Stuff+ grades three of his four pitches as above average, and he’s posted a sub-three ERA in 24 Triple-A innings this year.
His results have been uneven, though. This season, he’s had six scoreless outings and three appearances in which he allowed multiple runs, with nothing in between.
That kind of arm fits the Orioles’ usual bullpen churn. They’ll try to make something work with Sanders, and if he sticks, he gets a shot at the big-league level. If not, he could be the next pitcher they move on from in favor of another recently DFA’d arm.
Elsewhere, the Orioles had two prospects in Sunday’s Futures Game, though neither got much of a chance to make a real imprint. Ike Irish and Joseph Dzierwa, both drafted in 2025, were Baltimore’s representatives in a game that overlapped with the Orioles’ actual contest and the MLB draft - an odd setup for MLB.
Irish entered as a DH and went 0-1 with a walk in two plate appearances. Dzierwa faced one hitter in the final inning and got a flyout.
So Baltimore technically got what it wanted on paper: two prospects in the Futures Game. But the night would have meant a lot more if either one had been on the field long enough to do something memorable.
In Other News...
Orioles Make Troubling Pitching Move As Keegan Akin Situation Deepens
The Orioles added another arm to the organization on Monday, acquiring right-hander Cam Sanders from the Pirates for cash considerations and sending him to Triple-A Norfolk. Sanders had been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, and Baltimore is giving itself a little extra depth in the system at a time when the pitching staff is getting stretched.
The more pressing issue is Keegan Akin, who was moved to the 60-day injured list because of an elbow injury. He is scheduled for a medical evaluation that will help determine the next step, and for an Orioles club already trying to manage its pitching depth, the situation adds another layer of uncertainty to a bullpen that could use some stability. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Writer Just Put A Stunning Timeline On Samuel Basallo
Samuel Basallo has given the Orioles plenty to dream on already, and the appeal is obvious every time the 21-year-old catcher gets into one of his power swings. He has 16 home runs in 301 plate appearances, and his advanced power numbers back up what the eye test says: when he connects, the ball leaves in a hurry. Basallo has also talked openly about wanting to become an All-Star someday, which fits the way the organization has started to view him as more than just a promising bat.
The next step is less about raw talent than about the everyday grind that comes with becoming a lineup fixture. Basallo is still working through pitch selection and the defensive side of the position, but the trust around him is growing as he keeps showing he can handle bigger moments. Baltimore does not need to decide his ceiling right now, only whether his recent surge is the start of something much larger, and that is where the intrigue really begins. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Have Seen This Mike Elias Pattern Far Too Often
For Orioles fans, the frustration is starting to feel familiar in a way that is hard to ignore. Since Mike Elias took over in 2019, Baltimore has too often been stuck in the same place at the same point on the calendar, rarely above .500 by the 95-game mark and usually hanging near the bottom of the AL East while the rest of the division pulls away.
The larger concern is not just where this season sits now, but how closely it fits the pattern that has followed Elias from the start. Baltimore has not finished a year with more than 78 wins under his watch, and even with the organization trying to build around a young core, the margin for error keeps shrinking as injuries pile up and the standings tighten. [Read more 🡒]