Today\u2019s 6-4 loss to the Nationals dropped the Orioles to 39-46, but Baltimore remains only three games out of a wild card spot in the underwhelming American League.\u00a0 Ten of the 15 AL clubs have losing records, leaving the Orioles still in striking distance of the playoffs if they can finally get on any kind of extended hot streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish we were arriving at that at a much different way, and the context around that\u2019s unusual. But we\u2019re right there,\u201d president of baseball operations Mike Elias said about his team\u2019s presence in the playoff chase when speaking with MASNsports.com\u2019s Roch Kubatko<\/a>, the Baltimore Sun\u2019s Jacob Calvin Meyer<\/a>, and other reporters on Saturday.\u00a0 This is why the O\u2019s still have an eye towards buying rather than selling at the August 3 trade deadline, even though Elias acknowledged that a lot can happen in the next five-plus weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re planning that way [towards buying] in case it\u2019s the case,\u201d Elias said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to have to look at the circumstances and what happens.\u00a0 I will be doing the right thing for the franchise, regardless of everything else. We\u2019re going to have to see what the standings are and what our team is looking like at that time.\u00a0 But we\u2019re certainly making those preparations and everybody in this building is in the mindset of going for it in 2026.\u201c<\/p>\n It has now been close to two full years of mediocre baseball for the Orioles since they began the 2024 season with a 57-33 record.\u00a0 The O\u2019s were 34-38 in the final 72 games of the 2024 campaign and still reached the postseason but were swept by the Royals over two games in the wild card series.\u00a0 Baltimore then struggled through an injury-plagued 2025 season that saw the club drop to a 75-87 mark, ending a string of three straight winning seasons.<\/p>\n Within this broader context, it is fair to wonder if the Orioles can reach another gear.\u00a0 Injuries have again played a big role in the 2026 season, but several players expected to be roster cornerstones (i.e. Gunnar Henderson<\/a>, Shane Baz<\/a>, Trevor Rogers<\/a>) have also ranged from inconsistent to outright disappointing.\u00a0 Simply being \u201cinconsistent\u201d might be enough to get the O\u2019s over the playoff line in a weak American League, but the Orioles have to do some work just to get to the .500 mark.<\/p>\n Elias declined to specify what the Orioles would hypothetically look to add at the deadline, though bolstering either the rotation or the bullpen seems like the most obvious target.\u00a0 The O\u2019s could also stand to add at least one bat to the infield or outfield mix, yet the extent of the team\u2019s lineup shopping will hinge on how many (or any) of Henderson, Jackson Holliday<\/a>, Tyler O\u2019Neill<\/a>, Colton Cowser<\/a>, or Coby Mayo<\/a> can get on track in July.<\/p>\n As one might expect, Elias didn\u2019t really address the possibility that the Orioles could be sellers at the deadline, since the club is still focused on returning to contention.\u00a0 What Elias did so, however, was downplay the possibility that Adley Rutschman<\/a> was any sort of a trade chip.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been the cornerstone, basically, since I\u2019ve been here, so he\u2019s an enormous part of it,\u201d Elias said.\u00a0 \u201cI wish our commitment was greater than it is.\u00a0 We want him here forever.\u00a0 That\u2019s not something that\u2019s crossed the desk or the agenda.\u00a0 Our focus, first of all, we want to get it back, but we want to win with him here.\u201d<\/p>\n Rutschman has one more year of arbitration eligibility before entering free agency following the 2027 season.\u00a0 Selected first overall in the 2019 draft, Rutschman\u2019s MLB career has seen some peaks and valleys that have largely reflected the Orioles\u2019 own results over the last five seasons.\u00a0 This year, Rutschman has hit a solid .255\/.332\/.456 with eight homers over 232 plate appearances, while missing some time due to two minimal IL stints (the catcher was just activated from the concussion-related IL today<\/a>).<\/p>\n While Rutschman looks to be back in good form, it remains to be seen if an extension is really in the cards.\u00a0 Speculation about Rutschman\u2019s future in Baltimore hit a new level when fellow catcher Samuel Basallo<\/a> was signed to an eight-year extension last August, suddenly entrenching Basallo as part of the Orioles\u2019 long-term plans.<\/p>\n Even if the Orioles do become deadline sellers, a Rutschman trade is probably unlikely to happen until the offseason at the earliest.\u00a0 Teams generally prefer to not acquire a starting catcher in midseason, as catchers need time to fully adjust to a new pitching staff.\u00a0 That said, catching is always in short supply around baseball, and having Rutschman for two postseason runs instead of just one might inspire some contenders to at least check in with Elias about Rutschman\u2019s availability.\u00a0 Elias\u2019 statements on Saturday could be viewed as gamemanship in the context of upping Rutschman\u2019s price tag for any potential suitors, yet it is also fair to assume Elias was being genuine in wanting to keep a former 1-1 pick in the fold.<\/p>\n Elias provided Kubatko<\/a> and company with some other updates on the injury front.\u00a0 Dean Kremer<\/a> has missed over two months due to a quad strain, but Elias said Kremer is \u201creally close\u201d to being activated from the 60-day injured list after making two Triple-A rehab starts.\u00a0 Yaramil Hiraldo<\/a> is also nearing a minor league rehab assignment, as the right-hander is looking to get back to game action since shoulder inflammation sidelined him in the first week of the season.<\/p>\n Ryan Mountcastle<\/a> is also on the 60-day IL and hasn\u2019t played since suffering a broken bone in his left foot in mid-April.\u00a0 Elias didn\u2019t get have any details on when Mountcastle will be able to return, as \u201che just started running and we\u2019re getting to the point where we can see if we can like weave that into his baseball activities.\u201d\u00a0 Righty Colin Selby<\/a> has yet to pitch this season due to shoulder problems that Elias said were still ongoing, and it \u201cdoesn\u2019t seem like he\u2019s close to getting back up and running.\u201d<\/p>\n