This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ANAHEIM -- It can take a long time to fully evaluate baseball trades. Part of the reason for that is that deals often include prospects who have yet to reach the big leagues, so it’s impossible to know what type of impact they’ll make once they get to MLB.
This past offseason, the Orioles made three player-for-player trades in which they acquired a Major Leaguer. And while the 2026 campaign is only nearing the halfway point -- Baltimore plays its 81st game Tuesday night in Anaheim -- it feels fair to say that president of baseball operations Mike Elias made some savvy moves last winter.
Let’s revisit those trades completed by Elias and see how they’ve impacted the O’s, as well as the team on the other side of the deal.
Nov. 19: Orioles acquire OF Taylor Ward from Angels in exchange for RHP Grayson Rodriguez
This one is quite relevant, because the O’s and Halos are currently playing a three-game series at Angel Stadium, the first time they’ve faced off since this trade occurred.
In the short term, Baltimore is clearly winning this trade. Ward has been solid atop the lineup, entering Tuesday with a .258 average and a .759 OPS through 79 games while also playing improved defense in left field. Meanwhile, Rodriguez had an 8.06 ERA in six starts before going on the 15-day injured list with low back inflammation on June 15.
However, Ward is set to become a free agent after the season -- though the 32-year-old could be a prime candidate to receive a qualifying offer -- while the 26-year-old Rodriguez has three more years of team control and won’t hit free agency until the end of the ‘29 campaign.
If Rodriguez can’t stay healthy (which has been an issue throughout his career), then it may not matter that the Orioles could only get one season from Ward. Plus, if Baltimore makes a postseason push this year, Ward would likely be a key reason for it.
“Taylor Ward has been outstanding. I can’t speak highly enough about Taylor, what he’s bringing. He’s such a pro,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It’s been fun just to watch him hit and navigate at-bats every night. It’s something that we don’t take for granted.”
Dec. 19: Orioles acquire RHP Shane Baz from Rays in exchange for C Caden Bodine, OF Slater de Brun, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick (No. 33 overall)
Here’s a trade that will be impossible to fully evaluate for years. That’s because all four players acquired by Tampa Bay are prospects, and the only one who has even gotten to Triple-A is Forret. The others are at lower levels, and the Rays haven’t used the Draft pick yet.
But Baz has quickly become a core member of the O’s roster. The 27-year-old right-hander will be part of the starting rotation for a long time, as he signed a five-year, $68 million extension on March 27, before making his debut for the team.
Through 15 starts, Baz has a 4.04 ERA over 89 innings. But he has been much improved after a sluggish start, recording a 2.62 ERA in his past seven outings.
There’s a ton of upside with Baz, and if he reaches his full potential, then the Orioles will likely be OK with having lost all those prospects, even if most of them become quality big leaguers.
Feb. 5: Orioles acquire INF/OF Blaze Alexander from D-backs in exchange for RHP Kade Strowd, RHP Wellington Aracena and INF José Mejía
The O’s may have won this trade in overwhelming fashion based on the early returns.
Entering Tuesday, Alexander is hitting .310 with 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 23 RBIs and an .804 OPS through 67 games. The 27-year-old has been one of Baltimore’s most valuable players, especially because he can play anywhere in the infield and outfield.
And Alexander is under team control for four more seasons, so he isn’t set to hit free agency until after the 2030 season.
“You just enjoy the show when he goes out there and plays,” first baseman Pete Alonso said, “because it seems every day he’s just getting two hits.”
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Strowd has made only one MLB appearance for Arizona and has a 5.87 ERA in 23 outings for Triple-A Reno this season. The other two players acquired by the D-backs were low-level Minor Leaguers.
If Alexander keeps this up (and does so for many years), the Orioles will be the clear winner.