Orioles: 4 Players Ranked Among MLBTR’s Top Trade Candidates
MLB Trade Rumors features four Baltimore Orioles in their latest Top 40 MLB Trade Candidates rankings
This past Wednesday, Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors published the site’s early June rankings of the top 40 players in Major League Baseball who could switch teams at the trade deadline in July. The rankings are determined by a combination of how likely the player is to be traded and how much of an impact they could make once they’re in with their new team. Within the rankings, four players on the Baltimore Orioles roster were named as potential trade chips that the team could flip to bring in future assets.
Freddy Galvis (Ranked 27th)
In the article, Adams mentions how impactful Freddy Galvis has been on the offensive end for the Baltimore Orioles this season, citing his career-best power numbers and appealing walk and strikeout rates. The team signed Galvis to a one-year contract worth $1.5M this past January, priming him to be a trade piece without any concerns surrounding his cap hit. According to Adams, Galvis is in a position where he “seems all but guaranteed to be traded” as his contract expires at the end of the season.
John Means (Ranked 34th)
As the team’s homegrown ace, John Means would be a tough player to trade without disappointing the fanbase. However, Means is 28 years old, and holding onto him in hopes that he will continue to be effective when the Orioles are contending again is “completely plausible but also inherently risky” according to Adams. This season, Means has been one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball, boasting an ERA of 2.28 in 12 starts, as well as throwing the first solo no-hitter by an Orioles pitcher since Jim Palmer’s no-no in 1969.
Anthony Santander (Ranked 35th)
With his combination of notable defensive ability and a powerful bat, Anthony Santander will most definitely draw attention from teams looking to make an upgrade in the outfield at the deadline. According to Adams, Santander received “plenty of offseason interest” entering the season, but the Orioles never came to an agreement to deal him. In 16 games since returning off the injured list, Santander is slashing .333/.358/.508 with nine extra-base hits and seven runs batted in.
Trey Mancini (Ranked 36th)
From a pure optics standpoint, trading away Trey Mancini seems nearly impossible, which Adams mentions, calling Mancini, “the heart-and-soul of the clubhouse” in his rankings explanation. With his free agent period looming beyond the 2022 season, it seems as if Mancini will not be part of the next contending Orioles team unless if he re-signs with the club. However, if the team doesn’t believe their star will return, his 11 home runs and 44 runs batted in through 57 games this season would certainly command a hefty return of prospects and other assets for the Orioles.