With the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline approaching quickly, Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations and acting-GM Mike Elias will have some difficult decisions to make.
Glass-half-empty fans will tell you the Orioles are a below-.500 team with too many holes to fix at one deadline and should capitalize on any valuable trade assets they have.
Glass-half-full fans will point to the Birds’ 15-8 record in July, a starting rotation that is heating up at the right time and the reality that almost every team in a wide-open American League remains within striking distance.
If you are asking us at The Baltimore Battery, we believe Elias will lean toward the latter. With an opportunity to take advantage of a crowded postseason race, here are five bats the Orioles should consider targeting before the deadline.
JAKE MCCARTHY – OF, Colorado Rockies
Jake McCarthy would be an excellent fit for an Orioles club searching for more athleticism in the outfield.
McCarthy has quietly put together a strong 2026 campaign, slashing .291/.331/.487 with an .818 OPS, 10 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 96 games. Now, he is playing in Colorado, but those are still pretty impressive numbers for the 29-year-old.
He is capable of handling all three outfield spots, ranks in the 76th percentile in outs above average and possesses elite 99th-percentile sprint speed.
With two and a half seasons of team control remaining, McCarthy would certainly require a respectable return. However, with the Orioles struggling to consistently manufacture runs, his speed and aggressive style of play could inject some much-needed energy into the lineup.
TYRONE TAYLOR – OF, New York Mets
If you have not caught on yet, we expect the Orioles to be heavily involved in the outfield market, with Tyrone Taylor representing another intriguing option.
Taylor can play across the outfield while bringing the type of power-speed combination that teams covet at the deadline.
Although he has appeared in only 66 games this season, Taylor has hit 10 home runs while slashing .241/.290/.503 with a .793 OPS and a 113 wRC+.
The 32-year-old would likely come at a modest cost and provide the Orioles with solid defense and sneaky power near the bottom of the lineup.
IVÁN HERRERA – C/DH, St. Louis Cardinals
Iván Herrera may be the biggest long shot on this list, but with uncertainty surrounding both Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, the fit makes sense if the Cardinals decide to sell.
Primarily serving as a designated hitter, Herrera has still caught 41 games this season and would immediately upgrade Baltimore’s catching situation.
The 26-year-old native of Panama combines outstanding plate discipline with a 10.5% walk rate and just a 17.3% strikeout rate, helping him post a .360 on-base percentage while still offering 20-home run potential.
This move will largely depend on how St. Louis performs over the remainder of the weekend and the health of the O’s catching tandem, but Herrera would have the biggest offensive impact of anyone on this list.
WILLI CASTRO – UTIL, Colorado Rockies
Willi Castro has been roughly a league-average hitter throughout his career, owning a 91 wRC+ this season. But he is also one of the most versatile players in the game.
On the year, the 29-year-old Puerto Rican is slashing .262/.333/.416 with a .749 OPS and 12 home runs in 94 games.
Castro is under team control through 2027 and likely would not require a massive return, which could be appealing to the Oriole front office.
His glove, combined with his sneaky power and ability to contribute all over the field, would make him a valuable addition as the Orioles push for a postseason berth.
JO ADELL – OF, Los Angeles Angels
The Orioles have searched for answers in the outfield all season, and Jo Adell could be the type of high-upside addition that helps solve multiple issues at once.
Adell has finally put together the breakout season many expected, slashing .240/.288/.398 with 16 home runs, 62 RBIs and three stolen bases in 110 games. He has also become one of baseball’s better hitters against left-handed pitching, posting a .925 OPS and a 152 wRC+ in those matchups this season.
The 27-year-old brings an intriguing blend of power and athleticism, ranking in the 98th percentile in sprint speed. His right-handed power would be a welcome addition to an Orioles lineup that has struggled to consistently produce against left-handed pitching.
Adell is under team control through 2027, making him more than just a short-term fix. The asking price would certainly be steeper because of that control, but if Mike Elias believes Adell’s breakout is sustainable, he could become a long-term answer in Baltimore’s outfield.
None of these players would qualify as a blockbuster acquisition, but we also do not expect Mike Elias to push all of his chips to the middle for a team that has been inconsistent throughout the season.
A series of complementary additions feels far more realistic than one headline-grabbing move, and Elias himself told the media on Friday that the plan was not to lean strictly toward either buying or selling.
But we want to hear from you. Which player would you like to see wearing an Orioles uniform by the end of the deadline? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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