The Orioles roster is being rapidly altered as the trade deadline approaches. Within the last 18 hours or so, the team had already dealt three players, and now here’s two more gone at once. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported on the Orioles sending both Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano to the San Diego Padres.
A past era of the Orioles used the Buck Showalter phrase, “I like our guys.” When that era came to an end with a variety of trades, one Camden Chat commenter observed that the slogan was now, “Who
are our guys?” It’s not quite that bad right now, since the core position players are remaining (unless there’s an even bigger surprise over the next hour), but still: There are going to be a lot of new guys fans haven’t thought much about filling up the roster spots for the rest of the season.
I really didn’t think they’d deal Laureano. Somebody’s going to have to play for this team next season too and Laureano’s $6.5 million team option for 2026 combined with his excellent play so far in 2025 should have made him a player that the Orioles wanted to keep. They’re going to have to spend more money to replace him, or else roll the dice with a less-proven player.
O’Hearn being traded away was more expected, since the lone Orioles All-Star this season also happens to be a free agent after this season. He is surely limited to first base and DH - though the Orioles did throw him in right field at times - but even for players in those positions, a .283/.374/.463 batting line will do just fine. Nearly every contender could have fit O’Hearn or a player like him onto their roster before the wheeling and dealing season started. It’s the Padres who stepped up to get him, and Laureano too.
As of this writing, the trade return has not been reported conclusively. I’ll be back to update once there are players coming back from the Padres to discuss.
More from camdenchat.com:
- Perfect Orioles trade deadline farewell party ruined by Cano implosion in 9-8 loss to Jays
- Orioles Trade Deadline Tracker
- Alex Jackson represents an intriguing option behind the plate in the short term
- The Orioles outfield is set for a post-deadline shakeup
- What to expect from the post-trade deadline Orioles
