Trade, keep, build around: 3 Baltimore Orioles with 3 different outcomes

Cedric Mullins

Under Contract through 2026

Last but not least, we have the speedy, always dependable Cedric Mullins. At the beginning of last year, or even during it, who would’ve thought that the Baltimore Orioles would ever look at trading away their star center fielder? However, times have changed, and the Orioles farm system is looking more vital than ever.

Last season, there were grumblings that if Elias were given the right offer, he would jump on that outcome and trade the All-Star away. We all know now that that never happened. Now, two months into the 2022 campaign, and with his numbers becoming more inconsistent than consistent, it might be time to part ways while the getting is good.

Trade, keep, build around: 3 Baltimore Orioles with 3 different outcomes

Elias has Stowers tearing it up at the Triple-A level, and as long as he doesn’t pass on the best option in the draft, Druw Jones, then he will have even more depth to contend with. The Baltimore Orioles GM doesn’t seem like someone who is going to rush things along, but with the rebuild still not there yet, this move might make some sense in the long run.

Much like with Santander, it allows for the youth movement and to see if they really are who they are supposed to be. Writing this is tough because you always want your team to keep its best players. Mullins is undoubtedly one of those and could still be for years to come. However, it would be tough to pass up on a solid deal as well.

Narrowing down the possible outcomes: Trade of keep for now

Now the time has time, the time to give our final verdict on who the Baltimore Orioles should trade, who they should keep, and who they should build around. Trade is a viable option for all three, with only Mancini being a build-around type of player. With this in mind, we are trading Cedric Mullins, keeping Anthony Santander for now, and building the O’s up around Trey Mancini.