Just before the 2018 trade deadline, the Baltimore Orioles traded away six players, franchise cornerstone Manny Machado among them, in exchange for a prospect-heavy return. It marked the beginning of an extensive rebuilding process that saw general manager Mike Elias hired months later, several top draft picks and the construction of MLB’s deepest and most talented farm system.
That rebuild was a success. The Orioles returned to the postseason last season, the team was sold to an ownership group that has underscored a “fierce desire to win games” and it currently has the third-most wins in MLB. The process that began in 2018 has culminated in a team with a clear World Series opportunity. Now, Elias faces a different kind of trade deadline test just six years after his predecessors opted for a fire sale.
“I’ve got a sense of urgency to win baseball games,” he said of this year’s deadline. “We’re looking at the whole picture when it comes to the trade deadline. Where our team is at, where our health is at, where we can upgrade, what the market looks like. Which teams are selling, what are they asking for.”
The Orioles will be buying and Elias might opt for any number of improvements, from an offensive addition for the outfield to reinforcement in the bullpen. But a sweep in last season’s playoffs offers a clear path for the next step toward the World Series.
The Baltimore Orioles Need To Address Pitching Depth
The Orioles led the American League West division with 65 wins going into last season’s trade deadline, made a minor addition by trading for pitcher Jack Flaherty and ended up being swept in the AL Division Series as their starting staff struggled. Elias already addressed that weakness in a big way during the offseason, dealing prospective pieces to acquire former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers.
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