The Orioles Made A Flurry Of Trades At The Deadline To Rebuild Their Farm System And Have Set Themselves Up To Bounce Back Next Season

Well that certainly was something, the trade deadline has come and gone and holy shit was it a banger. You never really know how quick these things will go, but this deadline was a constant stream of action from all around the league. No one really thought Baltimore would be in the "selling" position 5 months ago but here we are, a lackluster off-season where not enough was done to help the pitching staff coupled with injuries to quite literally everyone in the Baltimore area code has led us to where we are now, the Orioles trading off 9 of their big league guys as they completely reloaded their farm system. I know, you all are going to give me shit, I've talked for years about the O's farm system and the young core and blah blah blah, hasn't worked out like we thought, but this time it's different. They traded plenty of guys on the big league roster and loaded back up on the farm to get back in a good spot for the future.

Ramon Laureano and Ryan O'Hearn -- >  Padres

Cedric Mullins --> Mets

Bryan Baker --> Rays

Charlie Morton --> Tigers

Ramon Urias --> Astros

Andrew Kittredge --> Cubs

Gregory Soto --> Mets

Seranthony Dominguez --> Blue Jays 

They added 16 prospects in total (in addition to the 21 drafted players signed) and have a fully stocked and loaded farm system again, but this time a majority of these players could and should be used to trade for a big time arm this winter. No excuses, you have the farm systems and prospects to go get anyone you want, go do it. Go get MacKenzie Gore, go sign Framber Valdez, go get Joe Ryan. By trading guys with expiring deals like Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Charlie Morton, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez and guys who still had team control like Bryan Baker, Ramon Laureano and Ramon Urias, the O's loaded up on youngsters who hopefully will be traded soon. You've got to crack some eggs to make an omelette and man does it suck to be in this spot, but moving these guys was the right move to stack your minor league system again which hopefully extends this window we're in. 

It's not a rebuild, not even close. The Orioles will have a top 5 farm system, have a chance for a top 3 pick in next years draft, AND didn't trade anyone from their young core. Adley, Gunnar, Westburg, Cowser, Mayo, Basallo, Beavers, Jackson, didn't move any of those guys and IF they can stay healthy next year and move some of these young prospects for a legit arm, bring in some additional free agents and they are right back in this thing in 2026. The core will be that much more mature with another year under their belt, hopefully they take another step forward and see what we have. Obviously no one thought they'd be here 2 years after winning 101 games, but that's baseball. That's how the cookie crumbled, but now Mike Elias and the front office are staring the biggest off-season in franchise history right in the face. 

This front office failed the team heading into this season, they failed big time. That absolutely can not happen once again going into 2026. They have an owner who has said he's willing to spend, a GM who can draft the hell out of some guys but has yet to show that they can build around those pieces or extend those guys that they've drafted. All eyes will be on Mike Elias and the Orioles front office this winter to see if they can finally lock up one of the core guys, if they can make another Corbin Burnes type deal, if they can surround this special core with the pieces they need to get over the hump, to win a playoff game, to reach a World Series. 

Of course it sucks to see guys leave, especially guys who have been here forever, like Cedric Mullins. Watching a guy like Ryan O'Hearn get traded for cash, DFA'd, left off the Opening Day roster, only to become a true team leader, a great hitter, and an All-Star in a short period of time was incredible. O'Hearn was one of my favorite guys I got to know throughout this whole thing, he truly is a gem. But a lot of the other guys are easily replaceable. Bullpens can be built up in an off-season, replacing a pen arm isn't anything. You can find another utility guy for Urias, you can find another 4th outfielder for Laureano (who was playing out of his mind, he's the one guy I wanted to hold onto), you move the guys on expiring deals anytime you can. 

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Some O's fans are unhappy with the trades and I truly don't know what they were expecting. Trading guys on expiring deals for value back is something every team does. Be upset that the season has unfolded this way, that's fine. Injuries happen, you can't do anything to stop them. I get being upset because a team traded your favorite player who is going to leave in 2 months, but you have to know the is a business. Guys don't spend their entire career with one team anymore, very few at least. Clayton Kershaw and Aaron Judge sure, Cal Ripken Jr. of course, but look around the league. Freddie Freeman is on his 2nd team. Shohei is on his 2nd team. Juan Soto has played on 4 teams, hell Tom Brady played on 2 teams. Cedric Mullins wasn't going to be a lifelong Oriole, that's okay. You got value back for him and he'll have a nice 2nd half with the Mets. A majority of the guys that were moved weren't part of the future plans anyways, some of these prospects will be, or they'll at least be traded for guys who will be in future plans. 

Now we just need Elias and company to finish it off. And for the Orioles fans saying "WELL HE HASN'T BEFORE SO WHY DO WE THINK HE WILL NOW?", that's not 100% true. He traded for Burnes 2 years ago! He traded for Zach Eflin, Trevor Rogers, Jack Flaherty and others. The moves didn't always work out but they made them. Big time stuff to work on this offseason but with their farm system and being backed into a corner, the O's should be right there next season still. If you don't want to have faith and believe I get it, that's fine. I tend to be more optimistic, I don't have time or effort to be all doom and gloom and piss on everything the team does. The O's may be having a bummer of a season but I don't think it's crazy to say they may have been one of the winners at the deadline. They've set themselves up nicely for next year and beyond, just have to execute the other part now. Shit or get off the pot time, Winter Meetings and the off-season will be very interesting. Spend the money, make the trades, we're tired of waiting for liftoff, let's get this shit off the ground.