The Orioles’ deadline haul got a lot less attention than the move that sent Adley Rutschman to Boston, but Baltimore did add a few names that could matter down the stretch. None of them are the kind of splash that changes the whole conversation around the club, yet the front office did stock the system with a few low-cost bets that might pay off if one clicks.
The most notable of the smaller moves came on August 3, when Baltimore made just its second-ever trade with its Beltway Series rivals. The Orioles sent pitcher Joe Glassey to the Nationals and brought back outfielder Christian Franklin, who is now set to make his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Angels. Baltimore also added outfielder Rece Hinds from the Miami Marlins for cash considerations, and later picked up RHP Codi Heuer from the Brewers in another cash deal.
That last part is what makes these moves easy to overlook and, for a lot of fans, hard to embrace. Cash-only pickups rarely scream urgency, especially for a team still trying to stay alive in a crowded AL Wild Card race. But Orioles GM Mike Elias said after the deadline that the club was still looking for value, and these are the kind of moves that sometimes uncover something useful.
Heuer is the clearest reclamation bet of the bunch. He flashed real promise with the White Sox in 2020, when he threw 23.2 innings, allowed just 12 hits, struck out 25 batters and posted a 0.887 WHIP.
Since then, though, he hasn’t come close to that level and has bounced to four other teams. Still, Baltimore clearly sees enough to take a shot.
His mid-90s fastball and 96th percentile extension give the heater some extra life, which could make him an interesting bullpen project.
Hinds brings a different kind of upside. When he first reached the majors with the Reds in 2024, he looked like he might have arrived in a big way, putting up a 1.051 OPS with five home runs in just 46 at-bats.
The former second-round pick has shown obvious raw power, along with elite bat speed and a real ability to barrel the ball. The issue has been the swing-and-miss.
He has a 36% strikeout rate across nearly 1,900 career minor league at-bats, which is a big reason the Reds and Marlins moved on. Even so, Baltimore is betting there’s still something to unlock.
Franklin may not carry the same loud tools, but he gives the Orioles another interesting option. He spent five years in the minors and was ranked as a top-30 prospect by both the Cubs and the Nationals.
He hasn’t posted numbers that jump off the page, but he does bring solid speed, enough pop to matter and a decent outfield profile, including an above-average arm. He’s also old for a prospect, which makes his path narrower, but there’s a real chance he settles in as a fourth outfielder.
For now, he’ll have the next two months to prove he belongs.
In Other News...
Pete Alonso Sent A Message Orioles Fans Needed To Hear
Pete Alonsos comments offered a small measure of reassurance for Orioles fans trying to process a jarring deadline stretch. After Baltimore sent Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox, Alonso spoke to the media and said president of baseball operations Mike Elias addressed the club following the flurry of trades, trying to steady a roster that has been reshaped in a hurry. It was the kind of message a team in transition needs, especially with the Orioles sitting fourth in the AL East and trying to stay attached to the race.
The bigger question now is whether that belief holds up on the field. Baltimore has been moved into a far different spot than it was expected to occupy at this stage, and the margin for error in the Wild Card chase is getting thinner by the day. Elias may still see a path to October, but the Orioles have to prove there is enough left in the room to make that vision matter. [Read more 🡒]
Adley Rutschman Trade Hit Orioles Fans Even Harder Than Expected
The Orioles decision to trade Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox landed with all the force you would expect from moving a franchise centerpiece, but the personal detail makes it sting a little more. Rutschman was Baltimores No. 1 overall pick in 2019 and became one of the defining players of the clubs rise, appearing in 572 games and collecting three All-Star nods along with a Silver Slugger award in 2023.
What makes the moment stand out even more is how ordinary it began, with Rutschman spending time away from the ballpark alongside former Orioles teammates Colston Cowser, Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson. For a player who had spent years as one of the faces of the organization, the timing underscored just how abruptly the next chapter began, and why this move resonated so deeply with Baltimore fans. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Catcher Shakeup Could Force A Bigger Samuel Basallo Role
The Orioles are among the clubs still sorting out the ripple effects from the trade deadline, and one of the bigger questions in Baltimore is how the catcher situation will look going forward. After adding pieces and shifting roles around the roster, the team now has to balance its lineup and defensive alignment while keeping the rest of the club steady during the transition.
Samuel Basallo is one of the names that comes into sharper focus in that mix, especially with the Orioles needing to cover more ground behind the plate than they did before the deadline. Even as the roster settles in around the new additions, Baltimores next move at catcher will be worth watching because it could determine how quickly Basallos role expands and how central he becomes to the teams plans. [Read more 🡒]