Re-evaluating the Baltimore Orioles 2022 trade deadline one year later

With this season's trade deadline now officially wrapped up, the Orioles begin the playoff push for real. Last year, the Orioles sold at the trade deadline despite playing really well, drawing some ire from the fanbase. One year later from the August 2, 2022 trade deadline, how do those moves look now?

Stats prior to beginning of play on August 1

Looking back at the Orioles 2022 trade deadline one year later

The first move the Orioles made was a three team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros. Jose Siri went from Houston to Tampa Bay, Trey Mancini went from the Orioles to Houston, Chayce McDermott went from Houston to Baltimore, and Seth Johnson went from Tampa Bay to Baltimore.

Trading Mancini stung the fanbase for reasons completely unrelated to his play on the field, but the front office made the right call. He didn't have great numbers in Houston, but he did win a well-deserved World Series ring. He's currently on the Chicago Cubs, having amassed a .234/.299/.336 slash line with four home runs, 12 doubles, and 28 RBIs in 79 games.

In the midst of his first full season in the Orioles farm system, McDermott had a 3.82 ERA and 1.259 WHIP in 14 starts and two relief appearances for Bowie, totaling 68 1/3 innings. He was then promoted to Norfolk, where he has allowed four earned runs over 13 innings and three games, one being a start.

Meanwhile, we still haven't seen Johnson pitch in the Orioles system. He underwent Tommy John Surgery right around the trade deadline last year after seven games at High A in 2022. He's expected to return to the mound sometime in 2024.

The other major trade made by the Orioles that day was dealing closer Jorge López to the Minnesota Twins. In return, the Orioles received four pitchers in Yennier Cano, Cade Povich, Juan Nunez, and Juan Rojas.

After being rocked in Baltimore and not making the opening day roster, Cano came up in April and has made the most of his chance, bursting onto the scene as one of the best relievers in the Orioles bullpen and even baseball.

Through 47 appearances since his call-up, Cano has a 1.93 ERA, 2.88 FIP, and 1.032 WHIP, averaging 1.6 walks per nine, 0.6 home runs per nine, and 8.1 strikeouts per nine, throwing 51 1/3 innings and picking up four saves.

Povich, one of the other headliners, started 2023 at Bowie and was promoted to Norfolk following 18 starts in the Eastern League. Povich had a 4.87 ERA and 1.365 WHIP at Bowie, making 18 starts over 81 1/3 innings. He's made one start with Norfolk, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings on Friday.

Nunez, acquired as a 21-year-old starter playing in the FCL, made his full season ball debut at the end of 2022 and at the start of 2023. After 13 games at Low A Delmarva this year, he was bumped up to High A Aberdeen. Across both levels, he has a 4.36 ERA and 1.372 WHIP, making 13 starts and five relief appearances, picking up two saves in 74 1/3 innings pitched.

Rojas, who was 18 at the time of the trade and is now 19, spent 2022 at the FCL level and made his full season debut this year. Combined between the FCL and Delmarva, he has a 2.79 ERA and 1.034 WHIP, throwing 9 2/3 innings over one start and 3 relief appearances.

The final move made on deadline day last year was a minor one, with the Orioles acquiring outfielder Brett Phillips from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. In eight games with the Orioles, Phillips had a .118/.118/.235 slash line with one RBI and two hits, both doubles, in 17 at bats before being DFA'd and spending the remainder of the year in Norfolk.

During the offseason, Phillips signed a one-year deal with the Angels, amassing a .077/.250/.077 slash line with two RBIs, three stolen bases, and one hit in 16 plate appearances and 19 games. He was DFA'd again and outrighted to Triple A Salt Lake, where he remains now.

One year later, it's safe to say things have changed in regards to the outlook of these deals. The players the Orioles received have made good contributions at the levels they are playing at, and what was lost hasn't turned into much consequence.