Baltimore Orioles Trade Deadline Preview

The Baltimore Orioles are contending for an AL East crown despite their mediocre starting pitching. What will they do to bolster their staff at the trade deadline?

Heading into today’s action, the Baltimore Orioles are 38-28, and sit atop the standings in the American League East by a game over the Boston Red Sox and two over the Toronto Blue Jays. Having just taken two of three from the BoSox and welcoming the Jays for the weekend, the O’s appear to be sitting pretty, but a closer look brings up a host of questions as to whether or not the team can sustain its success.

Baltimore leads the AL with an astounding 103 home runs and trails only Boston in doubles, slugging percentage, and OPS, so scoring runs is not a problem. The Orioles also have one of the most dominant closers in the game in Zach Britton, who is a perfect 20 out of 20 in save opportunities in 2016 and currently sports a 0.96 earned run average.

Where the team has struggled, though, is with its starting rotation. Chris Tillman has been an ace, going 9-1 with a 2.87 ERA through his first 14 starts. But beyond him, Baltimore’s staff is a bit of a mess. Among the quartet of Mike Wright, Ubaldo Jimenez, Kevin Gausman, and Tyler Wilson, not one has an ERA under 4.00 or a record over .500. Jimenez, who signed a 4-year, $50 million contract prior to the 2014 season, has been so bad that manager Buck Showalter demoted him to bullpen duty recently.

With a lineup that features the likes of Manny Machado, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, and Adam Jones, and averages just short of five runs per game, the Orioles possess the offensive firepower to play with anyone. But without an upgrade to their starting pitching, all of the runs in the world may not be enough to keep them in the race.

General Manager Dan Duquette has a well-earned reputation for being a major player at the trade deadline, and given Baltimore’s needs, there’s little doubt that will remain the case. But with a limited market of starters this year, a farm system that lacks big-name prospects, and a payroll just short of $140 million that is only going to grow after this season, the chances the Orioles land an impact player don’t seem too good.

Let’s take a look at the team’s situation and who might be making the move to Camden Yards by July 31st.

Next: Decisions, decisions.