The Baltimore Orioles had high hopes for the 2026 season after making significant investments in the offseason. Coming off a disappointing 2025, the team aimed to bounce back into postseason contention.
However, with a 39-45 record so far, things haven't quite gone as planned. If this trend continues, the Orioles might find themselves in the position of sellers as the summer trade deadline approaches.
Despite their reluctance to dive into another full-scale rebuild, the Orioles have some players who could be on the trading block. One notable name is Trevor Rogers, a left-handed starting pitcher with a 4.99 ERA this season. Rogers, who is set to become a free agent after 2026, might be a prime candidate for a trade if Baltimore decides to shake things up.
The Orioles, having recently emerged from a major rebuild, likely want to maintain the core of their team rather than dismantling it again. Players like Shane Baz, who are under team control beyond 2026, are expected to remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future. However, those like Rogers, who are nearing free agency, might be seen as trade assets this summer.
Rogers, now 28, has experienced a noticeable dip in performance compared to his impressive 2025 season, where he posted a stellar 1.81 ERA over 18 starts. This year, his ERA has ballooned to 4.99 over 15 starts.
If the Orioles remain in the hunt for a postseason spot by the August 3 trade deadline, they might hold onto him. But if they slip out of contention, trading players like Rogers in a seller's market could be a strategic move.
Teams in the playoff race are always on the lookout for pitching, and Rogers, with his potential and left-handed advantage, could attract interest as a rental option. Trading him wouldn't necessarily plunge the Orioles back into a rebuilding phase, aligning with their goal to stay competitive while avoiding another overhaul.
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Blue Angels Turned Camden Yards Into A Baltimore Moment Fans Wont Forget
Camden Yards had an extra soundtrack Saturday, and the Orioles made sure everyone in the ballpark knew it was coming. Before the game against the Nationals, the club alerted the umpires and Washington about the noise from the U.S. Navys Blue Angels flyover tied to the Sail250 event, then passed the warning along to fans on the video board as the planes prepared to cross over the stadium.
The reminder proved necessary in the middle of one plate appearance, when home plate umpire Jansen Visconti had to call time several times as the roar overhead interrupted the action. Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser also had a little fun with the moment, saying he wished he could have sent one out while the planes were flying by, even if he came up just short of making the scene even more Baltimore. [Read more 🡒]
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The pull to keep the pipeline intact is obvious, yet the pressure to win now is real, and that is where the front office has to decide how much future value it is willing to spend. Some of the organizations better young hitters have seen their stock rise at the right time, which only sharpens the question of whether the Orioles should keep waiting on development or turn that depth into help for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Cant Ignore These Two Season-Defining Problems Any Longer
The Orioles have reached the point in the season where two problems keep showing up in different forms, and neither one can be brushed aside much longer. Gunnar Hendersons spot near the top of the lineup has become part of the conversation because the offense needs more than name value from a player in that role, while the rotation continues to look stretched as Baltimore tries to keep games from getting away early.
Kyle Bradishs latest start only deepened the concern on the pitching side, with another erratic outing that ended quickly after he issued five walks in four innings. There is growing reason to think the club may need to get creative with how it manages the staff, including the possibility of a six-man rotation if help arrives in time, but for now the Orioles are still stuck trying to solve issues that are hard to ignore and even harder to mask. [Read more 🡒]