Orioles could take a hybrid approach to this year's trade deadline to get the most out of their roster

The Baltimore Orioles are in a weird place. For most of MLB history, being five games under .500 this far into June would mean that your team's playoff chances were slim to none. The implementation of the expanded Wild Card, combined with the state of the American League, has created a situation where, despite an extended slow start to the season, the Orioles find themselves very alive for the playoffs.

As it stands right now, the Orioles are just two games out of a wild-card spot. If you look at just that number, you could easily justify being a buyer at the deadline. You would think that being that close to a playoff spot this far into the season would mean that the team just needs a little push to get over the hump and into the postseason.

However, if you look at other numbers like the Orioles' win-loss record, their point differential, or any statistics related to pitching, you would come to the conclusion that the Orioles are not a very good team and should not even be thinking about buying at this trade deadline.

The Orioles could use a creative approach to the deadline to escape the middle of the standings

With how they've looked so far this year, it would feel irresponsible to send out a large prospect package for a rental like Freddy Peralta or Aroldis Chapman. On the other hand, with them being so close to the playoffs and the AL seeming to be so wide open, it would feel like a missed opportunity to throw away a chance at a playoff berth. So what are the Orioles supposed to do?

One option that they have is the often discussed but rarely pulled off buy-and-sell deadline.

The idea would be to look at the current roster and identify the players that are performing but aren't a part of your long-term plans and trade them away for prospects while simultaneously using your farm system to acquire players with multiple years of team control.

It's tricky to do because it requires the front office to do two things at once, but it's possible, and it may just be the Orioles best shot at successfully navigating the upcoming deadline.

One name that is being mentioned in a lot of "looking ahead to the trade deadline" type articles is Taylor Ward. Ward is 32 years old and is a free agent after this season. He has been as good as the Orioles could have possibly hoped this season, batting leadoff and putting up a .410 on-base percentage, which is something nobody saw coming.

The Orioles would hate to lose their leadoff hitter, but with so many contenders who need a right-handed bat specifically, this is a unique opportunity to sell high on a rental. The Phillies have already been linked as a team that would be interested in Ward, and with how much they've already invested into this season, it seems possible that the Orioles could extract a haul from known maverick Dave Dombrowski.

The Padres also desperately need some offense in their outfield with Ramon Laureano hitting the IL with a season-ending injury. Could the Orioles clean out the rest of the Padres' farm that they didn't get last year?

Another interesting name that the Orioles could float on the selling side of their buy-sell deadline is Coby Mayo.

Mayo got off to a rough start to the season offensively, but he's been much better of late and has at the very least proven that he can crush lefties. Even though he's filled in admirably at third, he's clearly not the future of that position in Baltimore, and with Samuel Basallo and Pete Alonso blocking up first base and DH, Mayo remains without a definite role on this Orioles team.

With Mayo on a heater, the Orioles could capitalize and sell high on him. They don't need to move him now, but if there is a team that's been impressed with his season so far and is willing to trade multiple prospects for him or take him as the centerpiece in a trade for a starting pitcher, the Orioles should be open to moving Mayo.

As far as who the Oriole should be pursuing on the buying side, it's the same story it's always been. They need starting pitching, and if they're going to move some of their top prospects like Nate George, Ike Irish, or even a Luis de Leon, they should be shooting to acquire proven starting pitchers with multiple years of control like Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, or Logan Webb.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow