4 impact deadline trades Orioles can make to kickstart rebuild

It’s becoming clearer with each passing series that the Baltimore Orioles are standing at a dangerous crossroads. What was meant to be another step forward in their contention window feels like a step backward. With their rotation depleted, bullpen unreliable, and offense inconsistent, it’s time to face the reality that this might not be their year.

If Baltimore shifts to seller mode before the trade deadline, here are four players they should consider having on the block.

4 impact deadline trades Orioles can make to kickstart rebuild

UTIL - Jorge Mateo 

Let’s not sugarcoat it — Jorge Mateo’s stock has plummeted. Through 30 at-bats this season, he’s hitting a miserable .133 with a .161 on-base percentage. He’s turning 30, on an expiring deal with a team option for 2026 that Baltimore is unlikely to pick up. However, not all hope is lost.

Mateo still carries two marketable skills: world-class speed and defensive versatility. He’s swiped five bags in extremely limited action and can defend multiple infield and outfield positions.

While he’s no longer the 13-homer, 35-steal threat he was in 2022, teams like the Kansas City Royals, who value bench speed and defensive depth, could see him as a worthwhile gamble. The return won’t be flashy, but if the Orioles can pry a projectable arm from a farm system, they should pull the trigger without hesitation. Mateo’s time in Baltimore feels like it’s already over, and maybe a fresh start gets him back on track elsewhere.

RHP - Seranthony Dominguez

Dominguez is walking a tightrope this season. His 16% walk rate is a career-worst, making him a headache for any contending bullpen. But strikeout stuff plays, and Dominguez still owns a 26% strikeout rate with the ability to miss barrels.

Relievers always become premium assets at the deadline. This year is set to be scorching hot, especially for those with power arms and playoff experience. If Dominguez can stabilize his control over the next few weeks, his value could quietly rebound. Baltimore won’t get a king’s ransom, but the demand for bullpen help is never short at the deadline. Expect interest to heat up from teams looking for upside in the relief market.

1B - Ryan Mountcastle 

Ryan Mountcastle feels like a player who has unfortunately overstayed his welcome in Baltimore. The 2015 first-rounder once looked like a franchise building block when he mashed 33 home runs in 2021. But after the club did him no favors and moved the left field wall back the following season, Mountcastle’s power disappeared, and so did his trajectory as a long-term fit.

Fast forward to 2025, the wall is moved back in a bit, and Mountcastle is slashing just .227/.263/.336 with two homers in 38 games. Even while currently showing signs of life, he's felt more like a roster clogger than a cornerstone. With Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo — the organization’s top two prospects and capable first basemen — it may be time for Baltimore to clear the runway.

Mountcastle still holds value as a proven right-handed power bat with one more arbitration year before free agency in 2027. A contender needing depth at first base or a DH could bite, giving the Orioles a chance to prioritize their youth movement in the second half.

SP -  Zach Eflin 

Okay, let's just say we’re in full punt formation here. If Baltimore decides to rip the band-aid off, Zach Eflin instantly becomes their most attractive trade chip. The veteran right-hander is keeping the Orioles rotation afloat, but let’s be honest — he can’t save this season alone.

Eflin is a pending free agent, and plenty of contenders need frontline starters. The Arizona Diamondbacks are desperately searching for rotation stability as they try to return to the World Series, and the Milwaukee Brewers, battered by injuries, could use a reliable veteran to stabilize their staff.

Moving Eflin would hurt in the short term, but the potential return — multiple pitching prospects or controllable arms — could be exactly what Baltimore needs to restock a farm system that’s dangerously thin on pitching. It’s the classic sell-high scenario the O’s can’t afford to ignore if they’re serious about building for next year and beyond.

The Orioles can’t afford to sell halfway. If they’re going to move on from this season, they need to go all-in on reshaping the roster for 2026 and beyond. Mateo, Domínguez, Mountcastle, and Eflin are all movable pieces that could return useful talent to a farm system in need of replenishment, especially on the pitching side. Will Baltimore be bold enough to pull the trigger at the trade deadline?

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