Tony-OH

If anyone want two of the big-3 than I can understand Elias going in a different direction.

That certainly could be a way they decide to go. Norby is still a decent trade chip, especially if a team is willing to live with his below average 2B defense.

He's barely ever played 3B so that is not really a selling point. Mateo is a SS/2b/CF utility guy. He was not being traded to be an everyday guy in my opinion because I doubt any team sees him a an everyday player. Edit: I now see you were talking about Urias vs Mateo. Urias is 3B/1B/2B guy, but I doubt he's bringing much back because he's always on the cusp of being DFA'd. Urias is a slightly above replacement level player at this stage in his career. He's not going in any trade as anything but a throw in to clear up roster space.

Tanner Scott was pitching the ninth so it really didn't matter, but Scott absolutely dominates lefties to a .077/.234/.128/.362 slash line. Pinch hitting Hays at that point was a no brainer.

I have to agree here. Mateo is a good versatile utility guy who had been filling in admirably at 2B, especially against left-handers. His loss, which hopefully isn't for too long, should have no impact on any moves at the trading deadline. The Orioles can still play Westburg, Urias, and Norby at 2B, even if Holliday was moved.

Basallo, Norby/Stowers, and Povich/Baumeister should be the most the Orioles should give up. And yes, it's going to be painful to watch Basallo become an impact major league hitter for years after Skubel is gone, but if the Orioles win a World Series, who cares?

Maybe for Mayo or Basallo, but I think Holliday gets him straight up. I would not trade Kjerstad or Cowser along with one of the big three. Each of the Big-3 should be able to headline a deal for Skubel. I do think they will want some quantity, but it will probably more of a Norby/Stowers type along with a Beavers/Fabian type and/or maybe a Povich/McDermott type. If they want Mayo/Basallo along with Cowser/Kjerstad that would have to be hard no for me.

3.44 ERA is not a good bullpen ERA. There are no impact relievers in this pen besides Kimbrel. This bullpen needs major upgrades to be a winning playoff caliber bullpen.

McDermott turns 26 next month, so he's who he is at this point. We don't know how he will look pitching on one or two days rest because the Orioles have not developed him as a reliever. Could he do it, perhaps, but that is part of my issue with the Orioles continuing to develop guys who could be of help as relievers as starters. Could McDermott be that impact reliever this team needs? It's possible, but it might have been even more possible if he was used that way this year in AAA. McDermott has a starter's repertoire, but he's got a reliever's command and he's been inconsistent as a starter even this year in AAA. If they send him back down, they should do what they did with DL Hall and use him a reliever in August in AAA, see how he looks, then bring him up late in August for the pen so he's available in the playoffs if he looks good in that role.

Baker has the option and will be the yo-yo guy this season.

As someone who wanted Bassitt and was disappointed to see what he signed for and it wasn't with the Orioles, I'm ok with them going out and getting him. Bassitt is a solid starter and while he's not an impact guy, he would not cost one of the big-3 and could probably be had for Povich and perhaps a Dylan Beavers-type prospect. I still want Skubel, but Bassitt would make the team better this year and next.

You do realize that was because Burnes was in the last year of contract and Skubel has two more years of control after this playoff run. So the Orioles get Skubel for three post seasons vs one so he's going to cost more. At the end of the day, this is about winning a World Series. Skubel makes this team more of a World Series contender than Holliday, Mayo or Basallo does. None of us want to trade the big-3, but the Orioles need an impact pitcher. Now maybe they will find one that doesn't cost them one of the Big-3, but they will be a rental and then next year the Orioles will be going into the offseason with just Grayson and Kremer penciled into the rotation in 2025.

In other words, you'd rather have a better chance of being good over the next 5 years vs great over the next 3 years. Skubel makes the team better this year and the next 2 at the very least. Without Skubel and assuming someone outbids the Orioles for Burnes, the Orioles rotation next year is what, Grayson Rodriguez, Kremer and who??? Skubel is the kind if guy that the Orioles should be targeting. It's going to hurt to trade for him, but I'd rather move Holliday and say Norby or Stowers for Skubel than have to move Kjerstad or Cowser with Mayo or Basallo.

Both Boston and Tamp have played well over their last 30 games while the Orioles and Yankees have been pretty bad. Both the Orioles and Yankees are flawed teams but they both have some talent struggling right now too. Both will make the playoffs, but yeah, it has not been good for either for more than a few weeks.

Perez is fine in the 6th inning when you need a groundball, but he's just not very clutch. Batters are slashing .381/.458/.524/.982 off him with 2 outs and RISP. Saying that, he's actually been pretty good until last night when he was putrid. Now, he was rusty last night after not pitching for 6 days, but prior to this outing he hadn't allowed in a run in his last 9 games covering 8 innings. I'm not ready to throw him away, and it's always tough when a reliever blows a tie or close game late, but let's face it, this offense wasn't scoring against Miami's bullpen anyways.

I don't have an issue with Bauer being discussed but leave politics out of this. "Woke" or talking about the "Left media" is delving into politics and we don't do that here. It is possible to discuss the merits of bringing in a guy who may have the ability to help the team that is in need of starting pitching without delving into politics. Discussing his "violations" and character are certainly up for debate. Saying that, this thread is about the team's swoon, and it certainly has been a swoon for sometime. The Orioles were just out homering people for awhile and were getting over their head performances by Suarez and Irvin. The bullpen, which I've been screaming for sometime about is just plain weak. When I look at some of the teams we are playing I'm amazed at how many impact arms they have while the Orioles don't have a single guy behind Kimbrel that you feel totally comfortable with when they come to the mound. Mountcastle is in his normal long swoon, and Adley has joined him and been pretty worthless , slashing .155/.294/.286/.580 in his last 23 games. Things are just a mess and need something different. Elias can't just hold all of his cards.

Yikes, no wonder the Orioles seem like a disappointment of late. I'll be honest, I typically don't pay attention too much to the standings until after the All-Star break, but I hope this run will encourage Elias to come out of shell of reluctance and safety. He need to be willing to bring in some impact pitching and allow some of the young players to play. There is no doubt this team has been sleep walking as their pitching staff, which has been decimated by injuries, has declined to the point that major upgrades need to be made. The hitting can be fixed internally if they would actually bring up Mayo and allow Kjerstad and Cowser to play most days.

It's not toast, its just not good. Not a single guy out there besides Kimbrel that you really have confidence in and even with Kimbrel you don't feel Bautista confident.

Embarrassing bullpen work by Perez. But hey, I was reading that we don't need a starter. We can just go with Burnes and GRoda and pray for four days of rain I guess. Of course we have to hope this below average bullpen doesn't blow the leads anyways when they can't get out Marlins hitters.

Nope, no need for a starting pitch or reliever. Nope, this team should just keep all their prospects and ride out with the crap they have.

Did McDoanld just ask if Norby could play shortstop if Gunnar Godforbid went down and Mateo is not available? Yikes. Here's the order of SS if Henderson goes down: 1. Westburg with Mayo going to 3B or Mateo if they are going to try and keep him down until the end of August. 2. Holliday 3. Urias 4. Trade 5. Norby

If we can get five innings with three runs or less I'll be pretty happy.

He does seem like he gets knicked up pretty easily and misses batches of games. That first full season can be tough on players because they're not used to playing everyday over 5-6 months before becoming pro.

At least there are interesting names to follow. Morao and Palacios were te two highlighted to watch this year in the FCL and they both have disappointed to an extent. Both had steep increases of BB/9 in the FCL from their DSL numbers. Not saying to discount them yet, but it would have been nice to see them take a step forward in the FCL and challenge for Delmarva time.

Updated through 12pm today. Bonuses will be put in later.