{"id":770815,"date":"2026-08-05T16:57:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/770815\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T16:57:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:57:21","slug":"orioles-final-trade-grades-separating-reality-from-fiction-after-the-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/770815\/","title":{"rendered":"Orioles Final Trade Grades: Separating Reality From Fiction After the Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\">The Orioles were eager sellers at the trade deadline. There is no other way to put it despite how their top baseball exec Mike Elias wants to spin it. There just isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"75\">They sold the first player Elias ever drafted \u2013 getting it wrong by taking Adley Rutschman over Bobby Witt in what would be a litany of personnel failures for him \u2013 to a division rival. They sold the starter who logged the most innings in the rebuild. They sold they best relief arm. They sold their regular lead-off hitter.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"78\">And they \u201cadded\u201d fringy AAAA quasi-prospects, swapped out back-up catchers and got one of the worst relief pitchers in baseball from Seattle. Come on man. We all know what this was and smart people know what it should have been \u2013 even more sweeping than it was. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7b\">Yet they want you to believe since they couldn\u2019t get exactly what they wanted for their Opening Day starter and their set-up guy, that they still believe in their grizzly MLB product. Regardless, they\u2019ll stay around .500 without these guys and this was never a death knell. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7e\">But it also is mere precursor to next year\u2019s madness, when they run the same grift and overhype the roster in March to sell tickets and then burn it down by August, with Gunnar Henderson, undoubtedly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/orioles\/onsi\/brace-yourself-birdland-gunnar-henderson-is-the-next-oriole-all-star-to-go-01kz7079kgkv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the headliner in their next firesale<\/a>. After talking to smart people in the industry and learning more about the youngsters they brought in, here\u2019s how I\u2019d size up the moves:<\/p>\n<p>Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers for 4 prospects and Carlos Narvaez<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7k\">Grade: A-<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7n\">Adley was cooked here. Never caught reguarly enough for years, was the worst DH in AL when he did that and his power was sapped. Didn&#8217;t hit for impact since June of 2024. We todl you the Orioles would go high after top arms in AA or higher and they two who quialify here (though one was still in High-A but was just selected 15th overall. I<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7q\">They got a bilingual veteran catcher back to help Samuel Basallo, who is still just 21 and coming back from the IL soon. Even Elias, as pathetic as he is at this, probably can&#8217;t totally mess Anthony Eyanson up, and he should be in this rotation by the All-Star break next season if he stays healthy. Meantime Adley was blocked at catcher and first base and didn&#8217;t want to be here.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7t\">Says here Adley will have problems in Beantown. And with any luck Sammy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/orioles\/onsi\/if-the-orioles-are-serious-about-changing-anything-in-2027-manager-craig-albernaz-must-go-01kz7k32cz78\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">will have a new skipper in Baltimore<\/a> in 2027 after the current overmatched puppet tried to shame him. This team won&#8217;t any strides until they have a proven dugout leader.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Wells for RHP Michael Forret<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7z\">Grade: C (for cynical)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"82\">Why does this kid get his name in the sub-headline and not anyone else? Because we\u2019re going to see him make a start or two for Baltimore this season. Just you watch. It hurt Elias to include him in the deal with Tampa for Shane Baz in the winter and we knew he wanted him back, with Forret projecting to a mid-rotation arm and Elias doesn\u2019t produce any of them within his org.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"85\">When Tampa wants one of your young arms, they tend to have a good reason for that. But this was about those optics more than anything else. Most years Elias\u2019s bullpens stink, Wells could have been huge for them next season too and the fact he has done everything \u2013 excel as a starter, and a set-up guy, and a bulk guy, and a closer \u2013 stings. They yo-yoed him around and broke him a few times and he came back from all the injuries and was a winning ballplayer again.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"88\">And Tampa will turn him into real weapon, like they did with Bryan Baker. It\u2019s impossible to give Elias the benefit of the doubt when he makes any transaction and especially with the Rays who are everything that fraud wishes he was.<\/p>\n<p>Taylor Ward For 3 RHP<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8e\">Grade: A as a salary dump; F as a baseball trade<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8h\">They waited too long for his new offensive profile \u2013 forget the 30 homers and 100 RBIs; he doesn\u2019t even want to swing the bat \u2013 to take hold. It was obvious he couldn\u2019t hit inn Camden Yards or hit with anybody on base all season. By August he had no real value and the salary looked even more bloated. Garbage asset management by Elias, but that\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/orioles\/onsi\/mike-elias-s-6-biggest-failures-explain-why-the-orioles-are-in-another-lost-season-01kxbvd4150f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Elias Way<\/a>. He doesn\u2019t know how to sell high on anyone. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8k\">Saying all of that, the fact that I don\u2019t have to watch this guy bat leadoff or clean up anymore and keep Dylan Beavers out of the lineup (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/orioles\/onsi\/biggest-orioles-winners-losers-after-the-trade-deadline-01kz58f2mx4g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">when he should lead-off regularly<\/a>) is a big win for me. But they got literally nothing back here that will ever help the MLB product in anyway, and the reliever they got will actively make it worse. Watch.<\/p>\n<p>Dean Kremer for a prospect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8q\">Grade: B+<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8t\">He had to go. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8w\">His diva crap had worn thin and I would have traded him the ifirst time he tried to show up Basallo, a kid who was thrown into the deep end and whose the hopes and dreams of this ever being a real team ride with. He\u2019ll probably be sold for the Twins but who cares. He had to go. The super-toolsy 18-year-old outfielder will probably never impact the Orioles but it\u2019s worth a shot. He was off to a great start to his pro career <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/orioles-acquire-jhomnardo-reyes-trade-dean-kremer-to-twins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">albeit in the low minors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Orioles Keep Rogers and Kittredge and O\u2019Neill<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"92\">Grade: F<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-25\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"95\">When you are this far down the road, these guys who are doing their jobs quite well with expiring contracts must go too. I don\u2019t care that your super-computer says you aren\u2019t getting enough back. I don\u2019t care that your billionaire overlords won\u2019t eat money top move Andrew Kittredge or Tyler O\u2019Neill. Convince them.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-26\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"98\">Now was the time to shed all dead weight and assess every internal option since you are on to 2027 (probably really on to 2028 because Gunnar is getting dealt). Rogers is high-risk to break down again and that 2027 draft pick they lust over if he receives a Qualifying Offer and signs elsewhere is three years from helping in MLB. Shoulda grabbed the best Brewers pitching prospect you could and called it a day.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-27\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9b\">They played the PR\/marketing game here thinking you will keep coming out to the ballpark because this guy is going to pitch once a week as they see if their compromised roster can be as middling as the one they just tore apart (but not as much as they should have)<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe To &#8220;The Daily Flock&#8221; For Hardcore Orioles Coverage:<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Orioles were eager sellers at the trade deadline. There is no other way to put it despite&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":770816,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2374],"tags":[143,47,2538,5,4,125],"class_list":["post-770815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-baltimore-orioles","tag-baltimore","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-baltimoreorioles","tag-baseball","tag-mlb","tag-orioles"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/117043963336914324","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=770815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/770816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=770815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=770815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=770815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}