Two prospects the Orioles should use trade for a true star player this offseason

After two straight seasons of making the playoffs in 2023 and '24, Baltimore Orioles fans had thought the rebuild was over. Then, in 2025, they missed the playoffs and finished last in the AL East at 75-87 - not the worst record, but it was three straight seasons of decline. Birdland had hoped 2026 would bring a return to October, and while it's still possible, the chances are getting slimmer.

Baltimore traded one of the faces of their franchise, Adley Rutschman, at the deadline, which felt like it was signalling towards another rebuild, especially with Gunnar Henderson rumors also swirling. That doesn't have to be the case, though. Mike Elias did well with the return he got for Rutschman, and there are a lot of quality young players currently in the majors. Elias tried to supplement the core with the addition of Pete Alonso last offseason; this offseason, he should use his newly bolstered farm system to make deals and add more high-end talent.

Two prospects the Orioles should use trade for a star player this offseason

Joseph Dzierwa, LHP

Baltimore has a trio of starting pitching prospects ranked two, three, and four in MLB Pipeline's O's top 30, all in Double-A. Dzierwa is the middle of the three and also Pipeline's No. 89 prospect. The O's starting rotation has three players who are either under long-term contracts or have lots of team control: Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, and Brandon Young. The O's could use one of their high-ranking arms to make a splash elsewhere, and Dzierwa should be the one.

The lefty was drafted in the second round in 2025 by the O's from Michigan State. In his first full season in pro ball, he has a 2.27 ERA across High-A and Double-A in 131 innings, 90 of which have been at Double-A. Dzierwa has held opponents to a .187 batting average this season while racking up 149 strikeouts and just 30 walks.

Dzierwa's draft and prospect pedigree should make him extremely valuable and enough to potentially headline a trade for a star player; after the addition of Anthony Eyanson (O's No. 2 prospect) in the Rutschman deal and the development of Caden Hunter (O's No. 4 prospect), Dzierwa should be expendable too.

Nate George, OF

A 16th-round pick out of high school in 2024, George is a great development story. Already ranked No. 6 in Baltimore's top 30, he could be moved with the number of outfielders the O's have in their top 15. Six players in the top 15 are primary or secondary outfielders, and they already have Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers in the majors, and they have to figure out the future of Heston Kjerstad.

George is a primary center fielder. MLB Pipeline writes that "he has the chance to be a plus defender for a long time" out there, which makes him extremely valuable. The problem is, they drafted Eric Booth Jr, a center fielder, with their first pick in 2026. Enddy Azocar, who they also acquired in the Rustchman deal, is a center fielder and is tearing the cover off the ball. Ty Head, their second-round pick in 2026, is also considered a "no-doubt" center fielder by MLB Pipeline. Enrique Bradfield Jr, their first-round pick in 2023, is also a center fielder.

Something has to give, and while some will move to a corner just to accommodate the logjam, trading somebody is going to have to happen, and George should be it. At 20 years old, he will be very valuable in a deal, and even though he has missed most of the season, it's been due to a medical condition not related to baseball. As long as his medicals check out, he could be a key piece in a trade.

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