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Orioles linked to All-Star aces from Red Sox, Twins as trade deadline targets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Orioles are 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot on the second day of July, and this team may be a trade deadline buyer in a month.
If they're buying, their top need is clearly a frontline starting pitcher. With this roster being good enough to make the postseason, adding a good ace would be a massive help in making a postseason push.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com linked the O's to two All-Star aces, one from the Boston Red Sox and one from the Minnesota Twins, as potential trade deadline targets who would make sense, and are actually realistic options.
Orioles linked to Red Sox, Twins All-Star aces as deadline targets
"Trading a haul of prospects for a two-month rental like Skubal isn't Elias' style, but a controllable arm such as Joe Ryan or Sony Gray could make sense," Feinsand writes.
The 40-48 Orioles rotation is in dire need of help. Trevor Rogers has a 4.99 ERA, Kyle Bradish has a 3.77 ERA, and Shane Baz has a 4.19 ERA. While Dean Kramer has a 3.18 ERA, and Brandon Young has a 3.11 ERA, the Orioles need one more starter.
Chris Bassitt is on the injured list, and Zach Eflin is done for the season. Adding just one more starter, ideally a staff ace, would help make the Orioles a much better team.
Even though Tarik Skubal would be fun, he's not a multi-year option. Gray (2027 team option) and Ryan (arbitration) would be fantastic choices to stick around beyond 2026.
Gray has a 2.69 ERA for the Red Sox this season, and with Boston likely to sell, an in-division deal shouldn't be off the table if it's their best offer.
MORE: 3 reasons why Braves are perfect fit for Tarik Skubal at MLB trade deadline
Ryan, meanwhile, has a 3.61 ERA, is significantly cheaper contract-wise, and is also 30 years old compared to Gray at 36.
But, more importantly, the Twins shouldn't have any reservations about dealing Ryan to the Orioles, whereas the Red Sox might pause on trading Gray to an AL East rival.
Either starter would make a lot of sense for the Orioles this summer, as they need an ace for the rotation who's under control for at least one more season in an ideal world. Their only real options are Gray and Ryan.
Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Robbie Ray, and even controllable options like Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers aren't the best fits for the Orioles. Gray or Ryan are the best options, and either would be a huge pickup for the O's this summer if they could pull a deal off.
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