Sitting less than three games from a playoff spot, the Orioles operated exclusively as sellers at the trade deadline. Despite those actions, Mike Elias said Monday that the team will be “playing for the postseason the rest of the way.”
The Orioles dealt away their only All Star and de facto captain to a division foe. They traded their starting left fielder to a team positioned just above them in the standings, and they sent one of their only reliable relievers to another division rival. They did not receive
any significant upgrades to the major league roster in return.
All of that being said, Baltimore is technically still alive in the hunt for October. Adley Rutschman was already absent from the active roster, and the team has other players that can take Taylor Ward’s spot in the grass. Tyler Wells wasn’t a shutdown closer (although the Rays may develop him into one), so there will be a next-man-up mentality in the bullpen.
Some of the AL wild card contenders improved their roster, but the race remains filled with flawed teams. The Orioles still have a legitimate chance to seize the final spot. Still, it’s difficult to imagine this group rallying against the front office like a scene from Major League.
Ben McDonald turned some heads earlier in the season by saying “you either do or you don’t.” Well, you’re either trying to win or you’re not. The organization, for better or worse, appears to have punted on 2026. If that’s the case, the team should look to use the remaining time effectively.
What does that mean? It’s a sentiment that Orioles fans know all too well. It’s time to evaluate the fringe players on the roster. Play the young guys, forget the platoons, you guys know the drill.
Brandon Young and Cade Povich entered 2026 on relatively even footing. Baltimore optioned Young from camp all the way back on March 7. Povich, as a lefty, appeared closer to the major league roster than his Triple-A teammate. Baltimore summoned Povich on April 5, and he tossed 6.2 innings of one-run ball a week later against the Giants.
The Orioles optioned Povich to make room for Dean Kremer the next day. He returned briefly in May but quickly hit the injured list with elbow inflammation. Povich is now healthy at Triple-A, but the numbers haven’t looked overly encouraging. Either way, there’s little left to prove at Norfolk. The Orioles need to know what they have in Povich, and they’ve positioned themselves for meaningless baseball down the stretch. That led to Baltimore handing Povich the ball last night, and he rewarded the team with six shutout innings.
The same logic applies to Trey Gibson. Ideally, Gibson would have received a little more seasoning at Triple-A before his debut, but the Orioles needed arms. Gibson made eight starts for Baltimore going 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA. He delivered 5.2 innings of one-run ball in his only victory, but he never completed six innings. There’s no simulation for facing MLB hitters a third time through the order. Gibson, Baltimore’s 12th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, needs a few more opportunities to cut his teeth.
Three recently acquired pitchers jumped Gibson in the prospect rankings. Neither Anthony Enyanson or Kyson Witherspoon are ready for the big leagues, but Elias described Michael Forret as “one phone call away.” The Orioles were already familiar with Forret. Will he eventually jump Povich and Gibson for a crack in the rotation? If the team has given up on winning, anything would be more valuable than outings by free-agent-to-be Chris Bassitt.
The same sentiment applies to the lineup. Heston Kjerstad will be out of options next season. The former first-round pick has struggled to stay healthy, but he’s available now and finally hitting at Norfolk. Enrique Bradfield Jr., another first rounder, will require a look at some point too. The team has already elected to provide recently acquired Christian Franklin a chance in the outfield.
The shift in approach involves more than just playing the young guys. Jackson Holliday should be facing lefties. Coby Mayo should be facing righties. Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers should be playing every day. The team should suspend its love for platoons and give these guys a chance to figure things out.
Baltimore just handed Kyle Bradish a five-year extension. Will they look to limit his innings after he tallied less than 75 between 2024 and 2025? Is it worth giving Félix Bautista and/or Ryan Helsley another opportunity to get hurt? Is there room for any late-season waiver claims?
The Orioles know how to play like a rebuilding team at the end of the season. Elias has “sold” at six of his eight trade deadlines. It feels premature to completely give up on 2026, but in some ways it feels like the organization already has. If the front office refuses to compete, they better get something out of these final two months.
