Baltimore Orioles send Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano west

Ryan O’Hearn was the Baltimore Orioles’ lone all star representative. Now he and Ramon Laureano are on their way to San Diego. The Orioles traded them this afternoon.

In return the O’s are getting the following prospects:

LHP Boston Bateman
INF Cobb Hightower
INF/OF Victor Figueroa
RHP Tyson Neighbors
INF Brandon Butterworth
RHP Tanner Smith

Bateman especially is sort of a big one. Only at single-A, but he’s one of San Diego’s top prospects. The O’s may have sold a lot today. But they got a decent return.

I’m surprised they traded Laureano, who’s still under team control. However that may have been the X-factor in getting what they got back. The haul they got on all of their trades is heavy on pitching, but the core of the team and the future is still in tact.

Interesting move by San Diego also. At first glance, it looks like the Orioles kind of fleeced them. If you’re their GM, you’re running a huge risk in saying this year or bust. When you take a leap of faith like that, you’d better be right.

Baltimore Orioles send Cedric Mullins to Queens

The Baltimore Orioles have traded center fielder Cedric Mullins to the New York Mets. This in advance of today’s 6 PM trade deadline. In return, the O’s are receiving RHP Raimon Gomez, RHP Anthony Nunez, and RHP Chandler Marsh.

This at first glance appears to be decent return for a player or Mullins’ caliber. Especially given that he’s a rental. Granted New York is now the only team who can offer him a contract, so there’s that risk for the Orioles. But the O’s can bring him back next year if they want to and are able.

Two of those three are top 30 prospects. So there’s that. And it’s good to restock the minors a bit. That said, youth doesn’t help the Orioles at the big league level for 2026.

Baltimore Orioles trade Ramon Urias and Andrew Kittredge

The Baltimore Orioles continued their deadline moves following yesterday’s 9-8 loss to Toronto. First off, they sent Ramon Urias to Houston in exchange for minor league RHP Twine Palmer. Palmer has spent parts of two seasons with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, and has a career ERA of 2.62.

The Orioles also appear to be sending Andrew Kittredge to the Chicago Cubs. Neither club has confirmed the deal, and it’s unclear what the Birds are getting in return. Of course we saw Seranthony Dominguez switch clubhouses the other day. Now Kittredge appears to be flying to Chicago with the Orioles only to compete against them with Chicago.

Kittrege is of course a rental for Chicago, as his contract is expiring. Urias was under team control through 2026. It’s a curious trade, especially given that the pitcher they got in return is only 20 years old. Urias is also a Gold Glove winner with the Orioles.

Admittedly Palmer has some promise. But he isn’t someone who appears to be capable of helping the big league club for awhile. More as it comes.

Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman for the win

By virtue of winning the night cap, the Baltimore Orioles swept today’s doubleheader with Toronto. Brandon Young got the start in a game that was vastly different from the first game. But that’s about par for the course in baseball across two different games. These just happened to be on the same day. Young’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Young loaded the bases in the first inning but pitched out of it. He then surrendered a run in the second on Lukes’ RBI-groundout. Straw would squeeze in a run in the third on a sacrifice bunt, and the O’s trailed 2-0.

But the Orioles weren’t going quietly despite winning the first game. Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI-triple in the fourth got them on the board and cut the Toronto lead to 2-1. Ramon Urias would plate him with an RBI-groundout, and the score was tied at two.

Of course the interesting side story in this game was that the Orioles traded reliever Seranthony Dominguez to Toronto between games. Go figure, Dominguez did get into the game in the seventh. He didn’t surrender any runs against his now former team, but it figured he’d get into the game.

On a side note, Toronto prospect Juaron Watts-Brown was sent back to the Orioles and assigned to double-A Chesapeake…who was at home, and playing Toronto’s double-A team. It’s unclear if there’s ever been a trade where a big league player switched clubhouses and the minor league compensation did the same on the flip side, but needless to say it was an interesting dynamic.

With the game still tied in the last of the eight, Gunnar Henderson smacked a double. Adley Rutschman followed, of course only in his third game since returning from the IL. And Rutschman smacked a key RBI-double, scoring the go-ahead run,

The Orioles called on Corbin Martin to close out the game – Martin, who was recently picked up by the O’s. Martin put two runners on, and was struggling with his command. But end of the day he recorded three outs and qualified for his first career big league save. And the O’s have taken three of the first four against Toronto, with one to play tomorrow.

The irony of course is that it probably would have been Seranthony Dominguez in the closer’s role. But he was in the opposing bullpen. It wasn’t an easy ninth, but it worked out for the O’s.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Jose Berrios. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Seranthony Dominguez switching clubhouses

The Baltimore Orioles have made a trade. They’re sending reliever Seranthony Dominguez to Toronto in exchange for RHP Juaron Watts-Brown. He was previously the 10th best prospect in the Toronto farm system.

Dominguez of course is only switching clubhouses. This in the middle of a doubleheader. I’m always interested to see if he has a jersey and a uniform ready to go in the other clubhouse for the second game when things like this happen. I guess we’ll find out. At this time neither team has confirmed the trade.

Baltimore Orioles: That escalated quickly

It’s tough to decipher whether Charlie Morton or another members of the Baltimore Orioles was the most key in today’s win over Toronto in game one of a doubleheader. Morton pitched to a quality start, and did so in a game where the Birds needed some longevity given the doubleheader. Not to mention the heat. Morton’s line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K.

The O’s led almost from the beginning. Sac fly-RBI’s by Tyler O’Neill and Cedric Mullins in the first inning gave them a 2-0 lead. Toronto would cut that in half in the third, however Ramon Urias and Cedric Mullins would each net sac fly-RBI’s in the home half of the inning to give the O’s a 4-1 lead.

The only real threat Toronto posed in this game was in the fourth when Barger’s two-run home run cut the lead to one at 4-3. However they ran themselves out of that inning with runners at the corners and two outs. On a double-steal attempt, the final out of the inning was recorded by the Orioles tagging the runner out trying to steal home. Why you would try something that risky in that situation, I don’t know.

The O’s took that one-run lead into the sixth before it escalated. And fast. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-single extended the lead to 5-3. Then the red hot Tyler O’Neill’s three-run home run gave them an 8-3 lead. But what the heck…Ramon Urias went back-to-back and smacked a solo shot, before Colton Cowser ended the onslaught with an RBI-single to give the Orioles a 10-3 lead.

But they weren’t finished. Gunnar Henderson’s three-run homer in the seventh gave the O’s a ten-run margin at 13-3. Ramon Urias smacked his second solo home run of the game later in the inning, and the O’s would tack on two nominal runs in the eighth. This following a Toronto solo home run.

When the dust settled, the Birds had a 16-4 win in the first game of the doubleheader. That’s a good spot in which to be going into the second game. Especially when you have a Tyler O’Neill, who has four home runs in the last four games.

The series continues tonight in the second game of the doubleheader at Camden Yards. Brandon Young gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Eric Lauer. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Four homers plus does the trick

My personal opinion is that Baltimore Orioles’ starter Zach Eflin was almost cheated out of a win tonight against Toronto. Interim manager Tony Mansolino lifted Eflin to match up before he could get through five innings. The scoreboard says that was the right move, but I digress. Eflin’s line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The O’s got out to an early 3-0 lead in the second. Cedric Mullins smacked a two-run home run. That was followed by a solo home run by Coby Mayo, back-to-back. And that set the tone for the game.

However Toronto would briefly even the score with two homers of their own in the third. But the O’s weren’t having any of Toronto’s antics in this game. Fresh off the IL, Adley Rutschman’s two-RBI double gave the Orioles the lead back at 5-3 in the last of the third. Ramon Laureano would add an RBI-single, but Toronto would add one back on a fielder’s choice-RBI in the fourth.

However the O’s would break the game openly quickly. Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI-double was followed in the fifth by Ramon Laureano’s two-run home run. Coby Mayo would score a tenth run on a fielder’s choice-RBI, in which Toronto had the runner out at home plate but took the out at first instead.

Colton Cowser would tack on a solo home run in the seventh and the Orioles went home 11-4 winners in game one against Toronto. Was it the return of Rutschman that made a difference? Needless to say, it didn’t hurt. But it was probably an indirect result of Rutschman’s return, and more a feature of the lineup being closer to complete.

Home plate umpire Brian Walsh did not have a good game. Gunnar Henderson was rung up on a called strike three that wasn’t close to being a strike, and numerous pitches appeared to be right down Broadway and were called balls. For the Orioles at least tonight, it worked out.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards (in game one of a doubleheader). As things being written, neither team has named a starter. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Strong finish in Colorado series

The Baltimore Orioles had to wait a bit longer than expected to see Tomoyuki Sugano in the series finale against Colorado. The game began with a nearly half hour rain delay – with no rain! But end of the day, it was worth the wait; Sugano pitched to a quality start. Sugano’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

This was probably Sugano’s best start in awhile. On a hot, humid, and sticky day at Camden Yards, Sugano turned in a great outing. The lone run he surrendered was a solo home run to Bernabel in the second inning. (Bernabel’s first homer of his career.)

But Oriole bats had some wherewithal to them today also. Following a Cedric Mullins walk and a Coby Mayo double, Dylan Carlson’s two-RBI double put the Orioles ahead 2-1. One inning later Gunnar Henderson got aboard with a single, and Tyler O’Neill smacked a two run home run to put the O’s ahead 4-1.

Following Sugano’s dominating performance, Yennier Cano did allow two runners on in the seventh. However he also induced a groundout and a strikeout, preserving the lead.

Gunnar Henderson would score in the eighth on a wild pitch to tack on an insurance run. Which as we know has been a tough thing for the O’s to do this year. End of the day, the Orioles took two-of-three in this series. Many will point to the first game and say that shouldn’t have happened. But two of three is two of three. And you take that.

The O’s now open a four-game set with Toronto tomorrow at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Chris Bassitt. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins on a Rocky Mountain High

Trevor Rogers was tasked with keeping Colorado at bay this evening for the Baltimore Orioles. Luckily for him and the Birds, Colorado wasn’t nearly as pesky as they were last night. Not even close. Rogers mowed them down with relative ease. Rogers’ line: 7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

The Orioles began tonight’s game in a similar way they did last night, with a run in the first inning. Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI-single gave them a 1-0 lead. One inning later it was 3-0 after a two-run home run by Tyler O’Neill. It was O’Neill’s second straight game with a homer, which is obviously a good sign. O’Neill’s struggled to stay off the IL this year, as of course has seemingly everyone else.

Colorado almost had an extra base hit in the third against Rogers when Arcia sent a deep shot to center. However it ended up being a long fly ball out. Cedric Mullins took a dead sprint towards the wall, laid out, and caught it on a dive. And dazzled the crowd in the process. Needless to say, that’s a gold glove play.

Mullins of course is a prime trade candidate. So that might have come at a good moment. It was also a swan song in a sense (assuming he moves) for the Camden faithful. As was his three-run homer in the fourth to give the O’s a 6-0 lead.

Incidentally, that was Mullins’ 100th career home run – all of them of course in the orange & black. So it was fitting that he hit that homer at Oriole Park. Also perhaps in one of his last games as an Oriole. Potentially. To show he wasn’t kidding, Mullins reached on a swinging bunt in the sixth. Colton Cowser scored on an E1.

Jacob Stallings would plate a run a moment later in a similar fashion – an E1. Colorado’s Robison did not have a good night in the field. The O’s would blow the game further open in the seventh. They batted around, and then some. When the smoke cleared, the O’s put nine runs on the board in the inning. And Colton Cowser made a play for a two-run homer, but it ended up being a long fly ball out to end the inning.

Lost in the shuffle was Trevor Rogers’ effort. Seven innings of one-hit baseball. However the story of the game, aside from the margin of victory, was Cedric Mullins. What happens between now and Thursday’s trade deadline remains to be seen. But Mullins has been a solid Oriole. And he deserves to have had his 100th career homer in front of Orioles’ fans.

Also worth mentioning, Mullins’ contract is up after this season. So the Orioles could trade him this coming week, only to re-sign him (if they so choose) in the off season. For the record, Alex Jackson smacked a solo homer in the eighth to run the final to 18-0. The Orioles set a franchise record tonight incidentally – 18 runs is the largest shutout win (in terms of margin of victory) in team history.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Austin Gomber. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Solo home runs truly don’t beat you

Things started well enough for the Baltimore Orioles this evening against Colorado. Dean Kremer was dealing, and Oriole bats were hot. But things change often change quickly. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill each smacked solo homers in the fourth inning to give the O’s a 2-0 lead. Coby Mayo followed with a solo shot of his own in the third, as did Alex Jackson. Almost before the crowd had settled in, the O’s led 4-0.

I’ve written and said a lot thus far this season about the O’s potentially tipping pitches. Quite frankly, at times I STILL think it’s possibly happening (inadvertently, of course). Either that or the analytics the Orioles are using are so strong and so definable, other teams know what they’re going to do, and the adjustments they’re incapable of making.

Nevertheless it almost felt like Colorado might have been tipping their pitches at the beginning. If they were, they themselves were able to pick up on it, and they remedied it. Their starter (Freeland) calmed down after those four home runs. And he started mowing Oriole hitters down.

It was almost like the sides switched circumstances – similar to the game in Tampa earlier this year when the O’s surrendered a 7-0 lead. Colorado found themselves, while the Orioles muddled around in their reporting. Moniak’s solo homer in the fourth cut the lead to 4-1. One inning later Estrada’s two-run home run cut the Oriole lead to 4-3.

An RBI-double by Goodman and an RBI-single by Beck in the fifth gave Colorado a 5-4 lead. That rally came with two outs – another motif regarding the 2025 O’s. Kremer recorded the first two outs of the inning quickly, but struggled after having two outs. Again, another two-out rally.

The O’s would tie the game at five on an RBI-single by Jackson Holliday in the seventh. That got Kremer off the hook, but Tovar’s solo homer in the eighth would end up being the winning run for Colorado. Never allow a team like this to hang around, or you’ll regret it.

The O’s were hitting early. Granted that stopped, but it was happening early. We all know that they say solo home runs don’t hurt you. But if you relinquish several of them, they SHOULD hurt you. Colorado overcame that. And to the victors of the spoils.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.