Orioles May Need to Trade Top Prospect to Address Major Rotation Concerns
The Baltimore Orioles are facing a pressing issue early in the season—a weakened starting rotation—and the solution may involve making a difficult decision: parting with one of their top prospects.
After acquiring ace Corbin Burnes in a high-profile trade last offseason, the Orioles hoped he would be the missing piece to elevate them into true World Series contention. Burnes delivered a strong campaign with a 15-9 record and 2.92 ERA, but it wasn’t enough to propel Baltimore deep into the playoffs. When free agency arrived, the Orioles attempted to retain him, but he ultimately signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, whose offer proved too enticing to turn down.
Burnes’ departure left a significant void in the rotation—one that the Orioles have struggled to fill. Their free-agent additions, including Tomoyuki Sugano, Charlie Morton, and late spring signing Kyle Gibson, have not provided the ace-level performance the team lost with Burnes.
"[Coby] Mayo is going to be the next interesting test case for them, whether they hold him or not."
The Orioles could theoretically build a trade package around Coby Mayo for any available pitcher at the trade deadline, says @Ken_Rosenthal. pic.twitter.com/7bYzC5k1ny
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 11, 2025
Concerns about the rotation, already present entering the season, have been magnified by injuries and underperformance. With postseason hopes high and the AL East as competitive as ever, Baltimore may be forced to act sooner rather than later to stay in contention.
Veteran insider Ken Rosenthal recently discussed the possibility of the Orioles using top prospect Coby Mayo as a trade chip to land a frontline starter by the deadline. Mayo, a highly touted slugger with the ability to play both first and third base, is blocked at the major league level by Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg. Despite his talent and positional versatility, Mayo’s path to regular playing time in Baltimore is unclear.
Trading Mayo would be a tough call, but it could help the Orioles acquire a much-needed arm—potentially someone like Sandy Alcántara, Dylan Cease, Michael King, or Luis Castillo. Each of these pitchers could dramatically improve Baltimore’s rotation, but they’ll likely require a substantial return in any trade.
While the idea of waiting until July to make a move may seem logical, the Orioles’ current rotation struggles suggest that might be too late. If the team doesn’t act quickly, it risks falling behind in a fiercely competitive division.
A bold move involving Mayo could be exactly what Baltimore needs to stay afloat and keep their championship hopes alive.
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