3 Orioles prospects who could be traded before the 2024 Rule 5 draft

The Rule 5 draft is set to take place at the end of the Winter Meetings, which this year will be on December 11. While we're not sure if the Orioles will choose to add anyone to their roster during the draft, there are a few players who were left off the 40-man who could be at risk of being selected by other organizations.

While the O's chose to protect pitchers Brandon Young and Kade Strowd, there were a few names left unprotected that could wind up elsewhere in 2025. In order to avoid losing those guys for nothing, the Orioles still have time to make trades, and could potentially get something back if there are any interested teams.

Catcher Creed Willems isn't technically eligible for the Rule 5 draft until next winter, but it's possible the Orioles look to move him off an absolutely scorching performance in the Arizona Fall League that ended just weeks ago.

Part of the reason it makes sense is that with the addition of Rene Pinto and the emergence of top prospect Samuel Basallo, there's little room in the organization for Willems. He should get more time at Double-A in 2025 but there's limited space for him to progress with the guys above him, and it might make more sense for the Orioles to try to move him now when his value is highest rather than wait until next winter.

3 prospects the Orioles could look to trade before the 2024 Rule 5 draft

Alex Pham is a seriously intriguing arm in the Orioles' system and he's at risk of being selected in the draft in a couple weeks. Pham pitched a full slate of starts at Double-A in 2024, throwing 119 innings with a 4.24 ERA and an encouraging 27.9% strikeout rate.

Pham won't be at the top of the Orioles' list for potential call-ups in 2025. At the very least, he'll be behind the group of Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young. However, it's likely that Pham will be ready to debut early in 2025 and there seemingly has to be a team out there willing to take a chance on him. This is the only chance the O's will have to trade him, or they'll risk losing him for nothing.

One other pitcher who could move is reliever Keegan Gillies, who has been an effective arm in the Orioles system for the past two years. Gillies pitched exclusively in Double-A in 2024 and while his 4.94 ERA wasn't anything to write home about, it did come with a 3.91 FIP and a 26.1% strikeout rate.

Gillies now has 71 innings at Double-A and is a candidate to make his major league debut in 2025. While the Orioles chose not to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, he's the type of guy who could come in and make an immediate impact on most major league rosters. It wouldn't be surprising if Gillies goes in the Rule 5 draft, so the O's might be able to take advantage of that fact by trading him now.