A number of MLB teams, including the San Diego Padres, could be vying for the services of a power hitting first baseman soon.
Per a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Baltimore Orioles are open to moving 28-year-old slugger Ryan Mountcastle.
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The potential move would clear up a spot for Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect Coby Mayo who began the season with Triple-A Norfolk.
Mountcastle, a first round pick by the Orioles in 2015, just began his sixth season with the big league club. In his first five years with Baltimore, the Florida native hit 91 home runs, including a career-high 33 round trippers in 2021.
Baltimore Orioles first base Ryan Mountcastle (6) hits a doubleNick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Since that 2021 season however, the Orioles added the left-handed hitting Ryan O’Hearn from the Kansas City Royals in 2023, causing a drop in Mountcastle playing time and power numbers.
Through four games this season, the right-handed slugger is hitting .154 (2-for-13) with a double and one run.
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While those numbers don’t jump off the page, Mountcastle did record his highest career exit velocity – 116.7 MPH- in the Orioles 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday. And on Opening Day, his double in the second inning registered 115.7 MPH off his bat. They were the two-hardest hit balls of his career.
Also reassuring, Mountcastle tore the cover off the ball this spring. In 43 at bats, the first baseman-designated hitter slashed .302/.340/.698 with a team-leading five home runs and 14 RBI.
An article on MLBtraderumors.com suggests, if Mountcastle is on the trade block, the Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers could all benefit by adding a right-handed power hitter.
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The MLB Trade deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m ET, exactly three months from today.
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