Orioles Rumors: AL West contender eyes Cedric Mullins while Mike Elias waffles

The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is at the end of the month, and despite the clear impression of the Baltimore Orioles being sellers ahead of the deadline, general manager Mike Elias isn't ready to make that determination. Sure, the Orioles have played better baseball of late; however, they remain an afterthought in both the American League East and American League Wild-Card race.

Elias had this to say when speaking with reporters over the weekend.

“This is a team that we had high hopes for. We can see the talent on the team, but we just stumbled badly out of the gates and dug a hole, and that’s still haunting us. I think we’re playing better and things are moving in the right direction, but there is a Deadline coming up, and we’re going to have to make a strategic decision around that sometime within the month," Elias mentioned about the Orioles' deadline direction.

The hole that the Orioles dug for themselves at the start of the season is likely too steep to overcome For that reason, the idea of Baltimore being sellers remains the most likely scenario before the deadline. While Elias wasn't ready to commit to that approach last weekend, he did admit that a decision would need to be made before the final week of July.

Cedric Mullins quietly emerges as trade target for playoff hopeful

Assuming the Orioles do decide to become sellers ahead of the deadline, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Cedric Mullins will be moved. What makes the Orioles an intriguing seller is the fact that they have most of their core under control beyond this season. Mullins, however, is a free agent after the season, and the Orioles will want to get something for him before he leaves.

One team circling with interest in Mullins is the Houston Astros. Bob Nightengale reported that the Astros "have eyes" on Mullins. The Astros need a left-handed bat, and Mullins, with his 12 home runs, would certainly check that box.

Orioles fans will need to limit their expectations for what a Mullins trade would net. If the Orioles come away from the potential trade with one of the Astros' Top 20 prospects, that should be considered a success.

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