Orioles GM 'open-minded' as trade deadline looms. That includes Adley Rutschman.
BALTIMORE – Adley Rutschman was Mike Elias’ bell cow in the massive rebuild the general manager undertook with the Baltimore Orioles, the very first pick atop the 2019 draft, one year after 118 losses gave the Orioles the chance to select the catcher from Oregon State.
Now, seven years later, Elias can’t say for sure how long Rutschman will remain an Oriole.
Rutschman, now a three-time All-Star who can become a free agent after the 2027 season, has emerged as a trade candidate as the Orioles’ run of uneven play has stretched on for the third consecutive season as they approach the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Before Baltimore begins a crucial series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, July 31, Elias expressed his appreciation for Rutschman — while noting he cannot rule out moving him should the 53-56 Orioles slip further behind in the American League playoff slog.
“We love him. You feel it when he’s gone from the team,” Elias says of Rutschman, currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation, yet expected to go on a rehab assignment early next week. “Absolutely love Adley and having him as long as we can.”
But.
“But, as I mentioned, I think we put ourselves in a position where we’ve got to be pretty open-minded here as we go into these (trade) talks. But Adley is one of the best things we have going for us.”
So it’s gone for the Orioles since mid 2024, when they faded in the second half, still won 90 games and yet were swept out of the wild card series in two games. A 75-87 season in 2025 precipitated a winter overhaul that included a $155 million commitment to slugger Pete Alonso.
Yet the 2026 Orioles have struggled to sync up their play — the defense has been consistently bad — and they enter play Friday 2 1/2 games out of a wild card spot, with three teams to pass. Nine teams are within 5 1/2 games of the three wild card positions.
Consequently, this trade deadline has been unbearably slow to develop — Elias called it “this strange limbo zone” due to the AL quagmire — and the notion of teams falling into binary buy or sell modes remains elusive.
With that in mind, teams’ fates can change from one hour to the next.
The Orioles’ best, likeliest trade chip should they decide to sell remains left-hander Trevor Rogers, who has posted a 1.99 ERA and 45-12 strikeout-walk ratio in his last eight starts. Elias would not comment on whether the club is engaging in extension talks with Rogers.
Outfielder/DH Taylor Ward and a handful of relievers, and possibly outfielder Colton Cowser, remain the likeliest Orioles to be dealt should they opt to sell.
“We are watching game by game,” says Elias. “This has turned out to be kind of a razor-wire situation going into this deadline, two and a half out, three games below .500. I think both of those are really disappointing, particularly what we hope to be.
“We still have a shot, a good shot in the American League. I mean, we are going to be watching the results of tonight’s game, tomorrow’s game, but it’s pretty important at this point that we have an idea of what we’re doing. We do have a shot.
“We do care about making the playoffs in 2026.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Orioles GM ‘open-minded’ as trade deadline looms. That includes Adley Rutschman.
