Since the Orioles dealt Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox on Aug. 3, there’s been a lot of chatter around Baltimore about the potential for future such trades. After all, Rutschman was a key member of the club’s young core. Could similar moves follow suit?
Early this offseason, trade buzz about O’s players has already circulated. Is Gunnar Henderson available? Would Jackson Holliday be a candidate to get moved? Is it true that star slugger Pete Alonso is the only untouchable piece of the team’s roster?
At the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday, president of baseball operations Mike Elias addressed the rumors -- and made it clear he’s not exactly out shopping top players.
“A lot of our key, core players are very unlikely to go anywhere,” Elias told a group of reporters, including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. “We’re talking to everybody about everything right now. I’ve seen reporting on this front, and I have not disputed it because it’s part of our job -- especially if a guy is not on a big, long-term contract, we’ve got to listen.
“But it doesn’t mean we’re motivated to trade players. It doesn’t mean we’re proactive. And it definitely doesn’t mean anything is going to happen. But we’re gathering information here, and I don’t hang up the phone, usually, when people ask about players.”
So, it feels like the Orioles would only be open to trading Henderson if they got blown away by a mega-offer. Even then, it may not be something the club would want to do.
Baltimore has missed the postseason each of the past two years (after consecutive playoff berths in 2023 and ‘24), and Henderson’s underperformance has been part of the reason for that. The 25-year-old shortstop hasn’t played up to his potential, hitting .225 with 27 doubles, six triples, 24 homers, 59 RBIs and a .712 OPS in 158 games during the 2026 season.
“I fully expect he’s going to have a much better season this year. We’re certainly going to do everything we can to work with his camp and support his offseason development,” Elias said. “He’ll be back in the saddle.”
Though Baltimore may not be likely to deal core players such as Henderson, Holliday and others, that doesn’t mean the club won’t be active in the trade market.
The O’s are looking to add starting pitchers and outfielders, as well as potentially relievers and catching depth. They should be active in free agency, but they also have trade chips in both the big leagues and farm system they could use to swing deals, if they identify a player they’d like to acquire.
“We’re open to all possibilities. We have to be,” general manager Jared Banner said. “We owe it to the fans of the team to exhaust all potential opportunities.”
“We’re exploring both [markets],” Elias added. “We definitely have the ability to use dollars to improve the roster, whether that’s free agency or trading for players that are under larger contracts. We have that ability. We’re not biased in one direction or the other this year. So just whatever player we like the best, whatever move we like the best, that’s what we’ll do.”
Here are some other notes from Tuesday’s GM Meetings media availabilities:
• The Orioles are expecting their entire MLB coaching staff to return for the 2027 season, unless any of them decide to leave for promotions with another club.
“Our plan is for the entirety of the staff to come back,” Elias said. “We’re still at a point in the year where other teams could hire from our staff. But at this point in time, we have arrangements to bring everyone back, and we’re happy about that continuity.”
• Blaze Alexander is a utility infielder who also plays the outfield at times. But he may not be alone in doing so in 2027, as the O’s are having discussions with other infielders about potentially getting some outfield work during the offseason and Spring Training.
“I’d rather not get into the details of it right now, but we have talked to some guys about -- not a full position change, but flexing out into the outfield a little bit next spring, having those conversations,” Elias said. “It is something that we’re talking to some guys about.”
Holliday and third baseman Coby Mayo would be among the most logical candidates to participate in outfield work.
• Baltimore is hopeful to bring back left-handed starter Trevor Rogers, who was extended a $23.15 million qualifying offer he’s likely to decline before next Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. The Orioles’ starting rotation needs a top lefty, and a reunion with Rogers would make sense.
“We’d like to retain him,” Elias said. “We have to let the QO process play out, but it’s about to be an open market here for both sides, and I think both sides will explore that market.”