The Orioles have a problem that plenty of teams would love to inherit: too many infield options, not enough spots to give everybody real run. That kind of surplus can turn into leverage fast, and Baltimore may have a clean path to use it with a team that wants the exact kind of help the Orioles can spare.
Miami is looking for upgrades at the corner infield and corner outfield this offseason, according to a recent report by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. That lines up neatly with Baltimore’s current squeeze.
Heading into the 2026-'27 offseason, the Orioles have Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Jordan Westburg, and Blaze Alexander all capable of handling third base next season. They each bring some versatility, but with the rest of the infield dirt already spoken for, Baltimore is going to have to move one or more of them to keep everyone properly in the mix.
That is where the Marlins fit.
Because Miami already has its middle infield settled, the club’s real need sits on the corners. That makes Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand the most natural names to dangle, though Westburg would become the more established piece if Baltimore wanted to go that route.
The return would likely come on the mound. Miami has repeatedly shown a willingness to deal from its starting pitching depth in order to improve other parts of the roster, and there’s no reason to think this offseason will be different. The Marlins also have top prospects close to the majors, along with big-league arms who could be moved.
Baltimore has already done business with Miami before. At the 2024 trade deadline, Mike Elias sent Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby to the Marlins for Trevor Rogers. Rogers needed some time, but he eventually turned into a top-of-the-rotation starter for the Orioles, while Stowers has since become an All-Star for Miami.
A deal built around pitching would make sense again. Sandy Alcantara or Eury Perez would be the headline upgrades for Baltimore, while Max Meyer or Janson Junk would be more affordable ways to bolster rotation depth.
Of course, the Orioles would have to decide how much they’re willing to put on the table to make it happen. Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner recently reported that Elias is willing to listen on everyone but Pete Alonso, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to hand away a valuable player for almost nothing.
The fit with Miami is obvious. The only catch is timing. Elias can’t sit on this too long, because other teams would love a shot at the same Marlins starters, and those options won’t stay available forever.
In Other News...
Orioles Got A Mixed Prospect Showing At The Perfect Time
The Arizona Fall League Fall Star Game offered a useful snapshot of where a few Orioles prospects stand right now, with four members of the organization taking part for Peoria. Pitchers Braxton Bragg and Patrick Reilly were both in the mix, along with outfielders Vance Honeycutt and Ike Irish, giving Baltimore a chance to see some of its better young talent on a stage built for evaluation. The Javelinas are tied for first in the AFL standings, so the setting has been as competitive as it gets for a developmental league showcase.
Reilly had a rough outing with his control in his start, while Bragg looked sharp in relief, a contrast that fits the uneven but revealing nature of fall ball. Honeycutt finished 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk, while Irish helped drive in a run with a single and also drew a walk, leaving the Orioles with a mixed but timely read on a group that could matter down the road. With the offseason still quiet and General Manager meetings approaching, Baltimores front office will soon have plenty to sort through, including where these young players fit into the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Have An Obvious Second Base Question They Can't Ignore
Second base has become one of the Orioles clearest offseason questions, and Brandon Lowe fits the conversation in a way few available options do. A Maryland native who played college ball at the University of Maryland, Lowe would bring a familiar local tie along with the kind of left-handed pop Baltimore has long valued in the middle of the lineup. His career has been built mostly with the Rays, with a stop in Pittsburgh, and he has paired that offensive track record with better work in the field in recent seasons.
Baltimores interest is easy to understand because the current answer has not held up, with Jackson Holliday struggling in 2026 and leaving the position unsettled. Lowe is not just a name on a free-agent board, either, since his recent production suggests he could help the Orioles in more than one way if they decide to make a move. The question now is whether Baltimore sees him as a fit worth pursuing, or whether the front office chooses to keep searching for a longer-term solution. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles May Soon Regret Moving A Bullpen Arm They Revived
Tyler Wells had become one of those useful bullpen fixes the Orioles could lean on in a pinch, the kind of arm that can stabilize a game when a staff is trying to sort itself out. After being shifted into relief, he turned in a strong July with a 1.10 ERA and even started looking like a possible closer candidate in Baltimore, a notable rise for a pitcher whose profile had always carried some volatility.
What made Wells so intriguing was the way he got results despite the risk baked into his style. He did not generate many ground balls, but he also kept the ball in the park at a respectable rate on fly balls, which helped the Orioles get real value out of him before moving him to the Rays during the 2026 season. For a bullpen that had just found a workable answer, that kind of departure can linger. [Read more 🡒]