Last season, the Orioles were in a prime position at the trade deadline to add a pitcher to help the starting rotation that year and be a part of the club’s future.They thought they achieved that goal after trading for Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins for a pair of prospects, but he initially struggled with the team and was demoted to the minor leagues to finish the 2024 season.Rogers was in the plans for this year’s rotation, but a knee injury before spring training set back his comeback to the majors by a couple of months. Now, he is fully healthy and is starting to look like the former All-Star pitcher who finished second in the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year award.It may be time to reexamine last year’s trade, which was looking mostly one-sided earlier this season, but now may be a good deal for both teams. Here’s a look at why.Rogers returning to formWhen the Orioles first acquired Rogers, he was having an up-and-down season for the Marlins. His inconsistency continued with the Orioles, and he ended up with an earned run average over 7.00 after four starts. He did not look much better in Triple-A either, and finished with a 5.65 ERA in Norfolk. He was looking like a total bust for that season, but at age 27, the Orioles were willing to give him a chance to figure it out. He suffered a knee subluxation in January while getting ready for spring training, so that would take away his chance for an opening day rotation spot. He was forced to delay his season debut and started the year in Triple-A. He was once again inconsistent in the minors and had a 5.46 ERA in seven starts. He was then called up for a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at the end of May.Rogers surprised many with his performance as he would pitch six shutout innings against a good Red Sox lineup. He was not as sharp in his second start as he struggled with his command. That did not last long, as he dominated the Texas Rangers on Monday night, pitching one of the best games of his career. He went eight shutout innings with four strikeouts, no walks and only allowed three hits. It has only been three starts, but Rogers is flashing signs of the 2021 pitcher who dominated the National League with a 2.64 ERA in 24 starts. His return to form will change the perception of the 2024 trade that was looking like a steal for the Marlins, mostly due to the breakout performance of outfielder Kyle Stowers. Future All-Star outfielderThe Orioles would send prospects Stowers and Connor Norby to the Marlins for Rogers in what looked like an even deal at the time. Both players had dominated the minor leagues for the Orioles but were blocked for playing time by other prospects. At the time of the trade, Norby was considered the better prospect, but Stowers has developed into a potential All-Star for the Marlins this season.He leads them in games played (72), home runs (11), runs batted in (35) and runs scored (32) while batting .270 for the season. He is putting together an All-Star caliber season and is finally showing what he can do in the majors now that he is getting consistent playing time. Stowers did flash signs of his potential while with the Orioles, as he was the co-winner of the 2021 Oriole Minor League Player of the Year, along with Adley Rutschman.Patience paying off?Norby has not panned out the same as Stowers in Miami, but he has been a solid contributor at third base. The two have outperformed what the Orioles have gotten so far from Rogers and, as of now, are the winners of last year’s trade. They are young pieces of a Miami rebuild that had no clear path to the majors with the Orioles. For the Orioles, they need as much starting pitching as possible this season. If Rogers continues to pitch like he did Monday and can finish this season healthy, the trade will not look so lopsided in favor of the Marlins. If he returns to his 2021 form and Stowers cools off a little, the Orioles could look like the winner in the long run.

BALTIMORE —

Last season, the Orioles were in a prime position at the trade deadline to add a pitcher to help the starting rotation that year and be a part of the club’s future.

They thought they achieved that goal after trading for Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins for a pair of prospects, but he initially struggled with the team and was demoted to the minor leagues to finish the 2024 season.

Rogers was in the plans for this year’s rotation, but a knee injury before spring training set back his comeback to the majors by a couple of months. Now, he is fully healthy and is starting to look like the former All-Star pitcher who finished second in the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year award.

It may be time to reexamine last year’s trade, which was looking mostly one-sided earlier this season, but now may be a good deal for both teams. Here’s a look at why.

Rogers returning to form

When the Orioles first acquired Rogers, he was having an up-and-down season for the Marlins. His inconsistency continued with the Orioles, and he ended up with an earned run average over 7.00 after four starts. He did not look much better in Triple-A either, and finished with a 5.65 ERA in Norfolk. He was looking like a total bust for that season, but at age 27, the Orioles were willing to give him a chance to figure it out.

He suffered a knee subluxation in January while getting ready for spring training, so that would take away his chance for an opening day rotation spot. He was forced to delay his season debut and started the year in Triple-A. He was once again inconsistent in the minors and had a 5.46 ERA in seven starts. He was then called up for a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at the end of May.

Rogers surprised many with his performance as he would pitch six shutout innings against a good Red Sox lineup. He was not as sharp in his second start as he struggled with his command. That did not last long, as he dominated the Texas Rangers on Monday night, pitching one of the best games of his career. He went eight shutout innings with four strikeouts, no walks and only allowed three hits.

It has only been three starts, but Rogers is flashing signs of the 2021 pitcher who dominated the National League with a 2.64 ERA in 24 starts. His return to form will change the perception of the 2024 trade that was looking like a steal for the Marlins, mostly due to the breakout performance of outfielder Kyle Stowers.

Future All-Star outfielder

The Orioles would send prospects Stowers and Connor Norby to the Marlins for Rogers in what looked like an even deal at the time. Both players had dominated the minor leagues for the Orioles but were blocked for playing time by other prospects. At the time of the trade, Norby was considered the better prospect, but Stowers has developed into a potential All-Star for the Marlins this season.

He leads them in games played (72), home runs (11), runs batted in (35) and runs scored (32) while batting .270 for the season. He is putting together an All-Star caliber season and is finally showing what he can do in the majors now that he is getting consistent playing time. Stowers did flash signs of his potential while with the Orioles, as he was the co-winner of the 2021 Oriole Minor League Player of the Year, along with Adley Rutschman.

Patience paying off?

Norby has not panned out the same as Stowers in Miami, but he has been a solid contributor at third base. The two have outperformed what the Orioles have gotten so far from Rogers and, as of now, are the winners of last year’s trade. They are young pieces of a Miami rebuild that had no clear path to the majors with the Orioles.

For the Orioles, they need as much starting pitching as possible this season. If Rogers continues to pitch like he did Monday and can finish this season healthy, the trade will not look so lopsided in favor of the Marlins. If he returns to his 2021 form and Stowers cools off a little, the Orioles could look like the winner in the long run.

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