While the Baltimore Orioles haven’t officially declared themselves sellers, major trade news are already beginning to swirl as the deadline approaches.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Orioles are reportedly considering moving on from three starting pitchers: all of whom could be dealt before the end of July.
“Top star, currently sidelined with back discomfort since late June, is expected to return to the rotation after the All-Star break and will likely become trade bait,” Nightengale reported. “The Orioles are also expected to move Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano unless the team goes on a significant post-break winning streak.”
At 43-51, Baltimore sits at the bottom of the competitive AL East and trails by 6.5 games in the Wild Card race. While a playoff berth isn’t out of reach mathematically, the organization has begun preparing for a reset following the midseason dismissal of former manager Brandon Hyde.
Eflin, before his injury, struggled to maintain consistency, posting a 5.95 ERA over 12 starts. Despite ranking in the 97th percentile in walk rate, his expected batting average (xBA) ranks in just the 22nd percentile, per Baseball Savant.
Sugano hasn’t fared much better. The 35-year-old owns a 4.44 ERA in 18 starts and has yet to deliver on the expectations that came with his one-year deal. The Orioles were hopeful the decorated Japanese pitcher would bring stability to the rotation, but he’s still adjusting to MLB play.
Of the three, Morton may draw the most interest thanks to his playoff pedigree. Now 41, the veteran right-hander is a two-time World Series champion with a 3.60 ERA in the postseason, making him a potential asset for contenders seeking experience on the mound.
Though the Orioles didn’t expect to be sellers when the season began, their current position in the standings is forcing the front office to reconsider their deadline strategy.