The Orioles’ search for left-handed relief help has already turned into a stopgap exercise, and that’s exactly why the trade deadline matters. Since Keegan Akin went down, Baltimore has cycled through Josh Walker, then Nick Raquet, who has already been called up and optioned three times this year.
Raquet could easily be sent back down again, with Dietrich Enns or another waiver-wire lefty stepping in next. That kind of shuffle can hold things together for a short stretch, but it’s not the kind of move that fixes a bullpen if the Orioles want to climb back in the standings.
That’s where A.J. Minter comes in.
With the trade deadline only a few weeks away and the Mets heading toward a fire sale, Baltimore should have the veteran left-hander near the top of its wishlist. Minter has spent 10 years in the bullpen and has built a steady record of getting the job done, even while dealing with injury problems along the way. He opened this season on the injured list, but since returning he has looked sharp for a Mets club with terrible vibes and zero playoff aspirations.
The numbers back that up. In 16 innings, Minter has posted a 0.56 ERA and a 2.61 FIP, while allowing just one walk across 59 batters faced.
He’s also not just a specialist who only works against one side. Minter has been a career-splits-neutral pitcher, and this season he has actually been better against right-handers than left-handers. Even so, his “worse” work against lefties would still be the best option the Orioles have available when they need to attack a tough left-handed hitter in a big spot.
That makes him an unusually clean fit for Baltimore. He fills the exact hole the Orioles have right now, and because he would be a pure rental, the price should be manageable if the Mets are serious about moving pieces around their core.
If New York pushes for more than Baltimore wants to give up for a rental reliever, the two sides could get creative. One possibility is a larger deal in which the Orioles send more prospects and the Mets include Freddy Peralta, allowing Baltimore to address more than one need at once.
David Stearns and Mike Elias both came up under controversial Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, and the overlap in how they’ve built their teams suggests they may see the game in similar terms. That could help the two clubs find common ground, with the Orioles landing help for the stretch run and the Mets bringing back useful building blocks.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Sent Gunnar Henderson A Message They Couldnt Avoid
Gunnar Hendersons 2026 season has been a far cry from the star turn Baltimore has come to expect, and the Orioles have been trying to find a way to nudge him back into rhythm. His overall line has settled around league average, the power that once made him such a force has been quieter since May, and even with a better strikeout rate, the rest of his game has not quite kept pace. Baltimore has already started shifting his place in the order as part of that effort, a sign the club knows it needs more from one of its most important players.
The concern is not limited to the bat. Hendersons stolen-base production has slipped after he swiped 30 bags last year, and his defensive consistency has also dipped, leaving the Orioles with fewer easy answers as they try to climb back into the race. He still has the kind of talent that can change the tone of a lineup in a hurry, but the gap between that ceiling and what he has delivered lately is getting hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Outfield Is Putting Even More Pressure On This Deadline
The Orioles outfield has become one of the clearest reasons this month matters so much, because the group is offering both help and headaches as the front office weighs its next move. Taylor Ward, Leody Taveras, Tyler ONeill, Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers have each left a different imprint on the roster, giving Baltimore a mix of production, uncertainty and contract questions that makes the position worth a close look.
Wards presence adds another layer to the discussion, since his value could shape how aggressively the Orioles approach the market if they decide to move pieces. ONeills contract complicates the picture from the other direction, while Cowsers rebound and Beavers return from a strained oblique give Baltimore some reasons to think the group can still stabilize. For a team trying to sort out whether this is a roster to add to or rework, the outfield is suddenly doing a lot of the deadlines heavy lifting. [Read more 🡒]