Baltimore Orioles Rumors: Trey Mancini Drawing Trade Interest

The Baltimore Orioles rumor mill won’t be overly active this trade deadline, but there are teams genuinely interested in acquiring the current face of the franchise.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, there is serious interest among teams in trading for Baltimore Orioles OF/1B Trey Mancini as the 2019 trade deadline quickly approaches. An All-Star snub who continues to be overlooked as injury replacements are added to the roster ahead of Tuesday’s game, Mancini is having a resurgent season with the Orioles, but will he return to Camden Yards next year?

Rosenthal doesn’t mention any specific teams in his brief report, but does make an interesting point, one that recently crossed my mind and has caused me to rethink where I stand on the question, should the Baltimore Orioles trade Trey Mancini?

Here’s what Rosenthal had to say about the current situation involving Trey Mancini and the possibility of a deal being made in the coming weeks,

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1147640447478579200

Just over halfway through the season, Mancini is hitting .294 with a fantastic .355 OBP, .523 slugging percentage, a career-high 129 wRC+, and has already matched his career-high in fWAR at 1.7. His strikeout rate is down (20%), his walk rate is up (8%), he’s smashed 17 home runs (seven off his career-high), slashed his groundball rate by more than ten percentage points, is making more contact than ever, and has cut his swinging strike rate from 13.8% in his rookie year to 11.4% this season.

Moral of the above story, Mancini has been an All-Star caliber player in 2019 and has improved in nearly every facet of his game, even his defense out in right field. As Rosenthal points out, Mancini is making the league-minimum right now and has three more years of control before he enters free agency. Control is gold at the trade market and means more teams are likely to inquire about his services, even rebuilding teams like the Seattle Mariners, who could have interest in a player with the number of years of control that a player like Mancini brings (there has been no connection to Seattle, just using this franchise as an example).

Point number two from Rosenthal’s report, the Baltimore Orioles aren’t likely to get the offer they want. He’s likely right. While Mancini’s defense has been better, he isn’t an outfielder. How many teams are willing to shell out top-ranked prospects for a first baseman/designated hitter who is a slightly above league average hitter?

Up until about two weeks ago, I have pounded on the table to capitalize on Mancini’s hot season and trade him for what pieces a team is willing to pay. I still wouldn’t be upset if the Orioles are able to move Mancini, but I’ve softened my stance on this issue, a bit.

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I’m a believer in “clubhouse guys” who can lead a locker room and show young players how to carry themselves as professionals, teach them what it means to have that name on the front of their jersey, and act as a role model. The Orioles are going to see an influx of young talent at the major league level over the next few years and someone has to teach them the Oriole way, right?

Rosenthal’s main point was that Mancini provides more value for the Orioles than another team, right now. Moving Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, and others last season was about collecting depth and adding to a near-depleted farm system. With Mike Elias deeply involved in the international market now, a huge first draft under his belt, and improvements seen up and down the system among top prospects already in the system, the Orioles no longer need to move pieces just to move pieces and acquire bodies.

The more I think out loud about trading Trey Mancini, the more I talk myself into wanting the Orioles to keep him. I’m torn. Help me out, Birdland! You have seen his continued success this year, you’ve witnessed the influx of talent into the system, and are starting to see a clearer picture of what’s taking place in Baltimore. With that being said, what should the Baltimore Orioles do with Trey Mancini?

We would love to hear your thoughts. Let us know below or head over to @BirdsWatcherFS on Twitter and drop us a line!