MLB insider's trade idea is something the Orioles should, but likely won't consider

We're just over two weeks away from Orioles' pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training and the roster is getting pretty close to locked in ahead of the 2025 season. The one area of focus that could still theoretically use an upgrade is the same one we've been talking about all off-season.

To this point, the Orioles have made a couple interesting additions to the rotation, bringing in former Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano and MLB veteran Charlie Morton on short-term deals. We've yet to see the kind of move that most fans were hoping for earlier in the off-season, which would be to replace Corbin Burnes at the top of the rotation with another ace-caliber pitcher.

While the options in free agency are limited, there are still at least a couple potential trade partners out there, specifically in Seattle who have a glut of seemingly top-tier starting pitchers and a need for impact bats. Jim Bowden of The Athletic has once again noticed that fact, and lined up the Orioles and Mariners in his latest predictions piece.

Bowden has come back to the idea that the Orioles don't currently have a real way to get infield prospect Coby Mayo consistent playing time in Baltimore. It's a fair point. While Mayo did see some limited time up in the majors in 2024, it was due to a number of injuries sustained by the major league roster, and Mayo was quite unimpressive in his brief debut.

MLB insider Jim Bowden thinks the Orioles should trade Coby Mayo

While Mike Elias has been fairly hesitant to trade top prospects, he did move Joey Ortiz to Milwaukee in the Burnes trade last February. The O's were high on Ortiz at the time and for good reason, as he looks like a solid everyday infielder for the Brewers moving forward. Would Elias do that again, especially considering that Mayo has a bit more prospect helium than Ortiz did?

It's possible, but the value coming back would have to be significant. Bowden's proposed trade has Seattle sending Bryan Woo back to Baltimore, which probably isn't enough to get Elias to consider that specific deal. But in general, moving Mayo for a top pitcher is something the Orioles should probably have serious discussions about.

As for Woo, while he debuted in 2023, he really came into his own in 2024. He pitched to a 2.89 ERA with an impressive 3.40 FIP and a minuscule 2.8% walk rate. He was a significantly better pitcher in Seattle than he was on the road though, which isn't a surprise as T-Mobile Park is, per Statcast, the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in the majors.

The big draw for someone like Woo is his control. Unlike Burnes, who had just one year of control left before hitting free agency, Woo won't even be eligible for arbitration until after the 2026 season, and isn't due to hit free agency until 2030. That's a massive benefit for a team looking to acquire someone like him, and it's why the Orioles would have to give up a prospect like Mayo to make it happen.

Will Elias and his team seriously consider making a deal like this? Honestly, no probably not. Are they even thinking about it? Well, it's certainly possible that they're in the market for another top starter. Whether they view Woo as a desirable trade target is another question entirely. But the O's clearly have a need at the top of the rotation, and they're getting to the point where they'll have a backlog of hitters who aren't able to get consistent run in the lineup each night. It makes sense to trade from an area of strength to address a potential weakness. We'll see if the Orioles want to take another crack at the trade market in 2025, or if they'll wait to see what comes up at the summer deadline.