Early trade target considerations for the Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are grooving into the 2022 season, and teams’ needs are beginning to take shape. Who are some players they may want to trade for?

Contender isn’t a word I would use to describe the Baltimore Orioles so far this season. However, surprising might be better, or maybe exciting, depending on the night. Either way, the O’s are in need of more than a few pieces as this rebuild continues to take shape.

The tricky part now is figuring out who to keep, who to build around, and who you can sell-off. Thank goodness Mike Elias has that responsibility because that is not something I would want. What I am comfortable with is throwing on my Armchair GM blazer and making some educated guesses about who the Baltimore Orioles should consider moving into the summer.

Typically the first few months of the season aren’t too active, but it is never too early to the game plan. The O’s need some depth in starting pitching, middle infield, and even with the explosion of excellence in the bullpen, there as well. There is a lot of promise coming up in the farm system, but the bridge needs to be gapped until certain players are ready.

Early trade target considerations for the Baltimore Orioles

Blake Snell

LHP San Diego Padres

Under Contract though 2023

Blake Snell is someone familiar with the AL East after spending eight years in the Rays organization. He was traded to San Diego in 2020 shortly after signing a 5-year $50 million contract extension with the Rays. He is still under contract until the end of the 2023 season, and owed $12.5M this season and $16M in 2023.

Snell recently returned from a groin strain IL stint in May, the Padres simply have too many starting pitchers rolling around their organization. After his flat-out ridiculous 2018 season, he has come back down to earth some make a move for him more reasonable. At 29, he still has years to grow, and the O’s pitching staff could certainly use him. Snell and a MILB player for Santander?

Daniel Bard

RHP Colorado Rockies

Under Contract through 2022

Keeping it in the NL West, the Baltimore Orioles could look towards the Rocky Mountains for some bullpen stability. The O’s are seemingly set with Jorge Lopez, Cionel Perez, Keegan Akin, and Nick Vespi (which sounds set, but it’s not). Baker, Bautista, and Tate have been used a lot, and but are more up and down than the waives in the Harbor.

Early trade target considerations for the Baltimore Orioles

Daniel Bard has been closing for the Rockies, and has looked like this so far in 2022: 3-2, with a 2.31 ERA, 12 saves, and 29 punch-outs. Wait, why would the O’s want another closer? The wouldn’t or at least don’t need one with how well Jorge has been doing. Bard hasn’t always been a closer, only since Colorado made put him in that slot in 2020 did things really settle in.

Bard spend many a good year in Boston, so he is also very familiar with the AL East much like Snell from the previous page. Since Bard is only under the Rockies thumb until the end of the year, the O’s could be smart and wait for Free Agency, but that might become to risky with how he has played.

However, don’t expect the Rockies to just give him away because his contract ends soon. No, they are going to want to cash in on this payday if they are sending him out. If Elias made the move for Bard, don’t expect the Rockies organization to just say for cash, or for a PTBNL. Bard and some farm guys for Mancini? Santander? Or even better, maybe the O’s give up Smith or Diaz?