The Baltimore Orioles played the middle game of their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays and they won 9-5 taking the first two games for their third straight series win and their 13th series win of the season. They’ve won six of their last eight games against the Rays. On Friday night they were handed some tough news that RHP John Means and RHP Tyler Wells would miss the rest of the season. That now leaves their pitching staff at Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Cole Irvin, Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, and Albert Suarez. Overall that’s not a bad rotation with Burnes being a Cy Young favorite early on. Still, it may be an idea to look for another arm that can be a top-of-the-rotation type arm, and there just might be one available for trade-in Miami as the Marlins are selling off pieces and have an abundance of arms that will be back healthy in 2025 so moving someone like Jesus Luzardo may make a lot of sense. It also may not cost the Orioles much either as the Marlins would look for a prospect that can hit seeing as the top of the Marlins farm system is all arms. The Orioles could entertain the idea of trading either ITD’s 22nd overall prospect C/1B Samuel Basallo who Adley Rutschman currently blocks behind the plate and Coby Mayo at first base (Mayo could also be an option if the Orioles prefer Basallo and Mayo is ranked 30th overall by ITD) or they could move an outfielder someone like ITD’s 93rd overall prospect Enrique Bradfield who Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser also block and they also have Jud Fabian in the system who they could also move instead of Bradfield.
Trade Options By The Numbers
LHP – Jesus Luzardo
Luzardo this season has made nine starts going 2-4 with a 4.18 ERA, a 3.65 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. For his career he’s appeared in 102 games with 86 of those coming as starts he is 25-32 with a 4.18 ERA, a 3.90 FIP, a 1.24 WHIP, and 551 strikeouts in 497 innings.
C/1B – Samuel Basallo
Basallo is in his fourth season in the Orioles system he’s appeared in 244 games hitting .290 with a .857 OPS; he has 45 doubles, seven triples, 39 home runs, 162 RBI, and 141 runs scored. This season at Double-A Bowie he is hitting .285 with a .784 OPS; he has six doubles, eight home runs, 25 RBI, and 26 runs scored.
3B/1B – Coby Mayo
Mayo is in his fourth season with the Orioles, he has played in 339 games hitting .281 with a .915 OPS; he has 90 doubles, eight triples, 70 home runs, 246 RBI, and 233 runs scored. This season at Triple-A Norfolk he has played in 42 games hitting .291 with a .964 OPS; he has 11 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and 31 runs scored.
OF – Enrique Bradfield
Bradfield is in his second season with the Orioles, he has played in 59 games hitting .275 with a .750 OPS; he has ten doubles, three triples, 14 RBI, and 45 runs scored. This season at High-A Aberdeen he is hitting .264 with a .706 OPS in 34 games; he has seven doubles, three triples, eight RBI, and 23 runs scored.
OF – Jud Fabian
Fabian is in his third season with the Orioles he has played in 184 games hitting .237 with a .811 OPS; he has 34 doubles, four triples, 35 home runs, 112 RBI, and 117 runs scored. This season at Double-A Bowie in 42 games he is hitting .226 with a .737 OPS; he has six doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 22 RBI, and 27 runs scored.
Wrap Up:
If the Orioles were to acquire Luzardo who would you give up? Personally, I’d go Mayo or Bassalo and Fabian for Luzardo and that should get the deal done.
