The Baltimore Orioles are flying into the stretch run on top of the American League East with a 60-40 record, but two of their longest-tenured hitters and biggest fan favorites could be on their way out of town.
According to a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Baltimore could deal away first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and center fielder Cedric Mullins before next week’s trade deadline.
Normally one of the best teams in MLB would never consider trading away players from their starting lineup this time of year. Clubs in the Orioles’ position usually look to make additions, dealing from minor-league depth to add win-now talent. Indeed, they’re expected to seek upgrades in center field and solidify their starting rotation, but their organizational philosophy has been to hold tighter to their surplus of prospects.
Mountcastle is having a typically above-average season at the plate, batting .267/.307/.438. His 114 OPS+, which indicates his offensive production has been 14% better than league-average, matches his career mark. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter is earning $4.137 million in his first year of arbitration and has two more seasons of team control remaining before free agency. As a slugging pull hitter, Baltimore’s extremely deep left-field fence depresses his power numbers, and Baseball Savant shows he would have more than his current total of 12 home runs if he played in just about any other ballpark.
Mullins has been with Baltimore since 2018, but somehow still has a year of arbitration eligibility remaining. His 2024 salary is $6.325 million. He was the bright spot on a terrible Orioles outfit in 2021 that finished 52-110, despite him hitting 30 home runs, stealing 30 bases, and winning the Silver Slugger Award. His production has regressed sharply since then as the club around him improved dramatically, and this year he’s batting .216/.258/.378.
Mullins’ decline is one of the reasons why the Orioles want to upgrade their center field spot. Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox is one of the hottest names on the trade market at that position. They could also replace him internally by playing rookie Colton Cowser in center, freeing up a corner outfield job for youngsters Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers.
While Baltimore can’t complain about Mountcastle’s output at first base, they have other options at that position as well. Ryan O’Hearn would take over everyday duties there in his absence, vacating the designated hitter spot. They could also call up top prospect Coby Mayo form Triple-A Norfolk, who plays both corner infield positions. Right fielder Anthony Santander has experience at first base, too.
