It’s that time of year when trade predictions start filling the news cycles.
Who is selling, who is buying and what next big prospect will bring a rental to a contender?
The Baltimore Battery has had its round table, and in this piece, we will bring to you possible players who the Birds could look into acquiring for a postseason run.
As a legit World Series contender, albeit earlier than expected, the Birds have some holes to fill. Both starting and relief pitching have to be at the forefront of any trade that is made by the front office, led by GM Mike Elias.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look into some starting pitching options that the Birds could consider, as the trade deadline is fast approaching.
Garrett Crochet: LHP/Chicago White Sox
20 G, 6-6, 3.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 107.1 IP, 150 SO, 23 BB, .199 BAA
Garrett Crochet is just 25 years old, two years removed from Tommy John surgery and carries a career 2.89 ERA across 90 games.
The downside to Crochet is that he has already pitched a career-high in innings, surpassing his four-year career totals halfway through the season.
Now, the White Sox value him extremely high, so they will be asking for a large return. On top of that, Crochet has two more seasons of club control after this year. An enticing option for a young former first-round pick.
With Crochet still being so young and the amount of team control he has, it would cost the O’s a haul of prospects to acquire him.
Trade Possiblity: Low
Jack Flaherty: RHP/Detroit Tigers
17 G, 7-5, 3.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 100.2 IP, 127 SO, 17 BB, .215 BAA
A former first-round pick himself, many fans in Birdland remember the anticipation trading for Flaherty brought last season.
Unfortunately, that excitement went out the window quickly, as The Flash went 1-3 through nine games (seven starts) with a 6.75 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and a .311 BAA after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Tigers saw enough of Flaherty to parlay that into a one-year, $14 million contract that has paid off big for them and Flaherty.
The Orioles are familiar with the former All-Star, and with an expiring contract, a reunion with the veteran righty could be in the cards, as he wouldn’t break the bank when it comes to prospects.
Trade Probability: High
Tyler Anderson: LHP/Los Angeles Angels
19 G, 8-8, 2.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 118 IP, 81 SO, 47 BB, .212 BAA
The well-traveled Tyler Anderson, who has had more success with age, is going to be on the market once again.
Two years removed from a 15-5 season with the cross-town Dodgers, Anderson is having a strong season on a team going nowhere in the Los Angeles Angels.
Anderson has turned in 10 quality starts in 19 games this season, has a career-low .212 BAA and is near most statistics from his career-best season with the Dodgers.
Anderson is under contract for the remainder of this season and next season for $13 million, a reasonable deal for a team in need of pitching depth and a back-end starter. The 34-year-old offers a veteran presence that will aid the younger pitchers and provide stability in the rotation.
Trade Probability: Medium
Max Scherzer: RHP/Texas Rangers
6 G, 1-3, 3.99 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 29.1 IP, 24 SO, 6 BB, .248 BAA
The ageless wonder, Max Scherzer is still as strong a player as ever before. With the seasoned vet, you get someone with a desire to win, who gives you everything he has when he takes the bump.
Traded to the Rangers last season after agreeing to opt-in to his option for 2024, Scherzer made his season debut on June 23. A contract with a base salary of $12.5 million and a total of $43.3 million, it will be a hefty price tag for the three-time Cy Young winner.
Scherzer brings veteran, playoff and World Series experience and knowledge to a team and will gut out every outing to win. He could be the missing piece to slot into a second or third slot for any team in contention.
Scherzer might not be the same pitcher who finished in the top five of Cy Young voting eight other times, but he still is a top talent.
Trade Probability: Low
Tarik Skubal: LHP/Detroit Tigers
19 G, 10-3, 2.41 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 116 IP, 140 SO, 21 BB, .190 BAA
Tarik Skubal is the latest in a line of Detroit pitchers that exceeds the play of the team. Following in the footsteps of Scherzer and Justin Verlander, Skubal could be the next Tiger ace to be dealt.
Having arguably his best season, Skubal is a far different pitcher than the one who gave up 35 home runs in his first full season in 2021. The crafty left-hander has two years of control after this season, and at 27 years of age, he offers a huge upside.
Skubal possesses a power fastball, a hard sinker, a curveball, changeup and a slider, all he can throw in any count for consistent strikes. Accumulating 14 quality starts in 19 games, Skubal has pitched less than six innings only three times this season and allowed more than three earned runs only four times.
Adding Skubal to a rotation featuring All-Star Corbin Burnes and rising star Grayson Rodriguez would be the piece to help put the Birds in prime position for a deep postseason run. It will cost at least two top 10 prospects and at least two others in the top 20, but this is a move that is more than worth the cost.
Trade Probability: Medium
With the Birds without three starters and the rotation featuring second-year starter Grayson Rodriguez and rookie Cade Povich, adding a veteran pitcher could be just the missing piece to push the Birds over the hump.
Cole Irvin and Albert Suárez have filled in very well, but depth and health are a big factor with three months left in the season. The pressure of the playoffs will increase, and as last year’s team found out, sometimes young talent is not enough to carry you.
While there could be a dark horse out there, these five pitchers offer the best scenarios and options for a team with World Series aspirations.
What starting pitcher would you like to see the O’s acquire before this year’s trade deadline? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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