Blockbuster Orioles Trade Scenario Sends $75 Million All-Star Pitcher to Baltimore
With Opening Day less than a month away, one might think the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals are done making noteworthy trades.
Not quite, at least in the Cardinals’ case. All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado remains linked to the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.
Veteran starting pitchers Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, and Steven Matz could all find themselves on new teams in the coming months. Now is the perfect time for the Orioles to inquire about Gray’s services, especially if the Cardinals are interested in accelerating their rebuild.
Gray went 13-9 with a 3.84 ERA in 28 starts last season, the first year of a three-year, $75 million deal he signed after 2023. The three-time All-Star’s contract also features a team option for 2027. Here’s a hypothetical trade both teams should consider.
Baltimore Orioles receive: Sonny Gray, P St. Louis Cardinals receive: Dylan Beavers, OF; Brandon Young, P; Max Wagner, 3B; Peter Van Loon, P If this seems like a massive return for the Cardinals,
don’t forget they’re on the verge of starting over. Conversely, the Orioles are World Series hopefuls in a division featuring the New York Yankees. The FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Orioles as +600 favorites to win the American League, only trailing the Yankees (+300). Beavers is the crown piece of this trade for good reason.
The No. 33 pick in 2022 hit .242 with 15 home runs, 54 RBI, and an impressive 31 stolen bases in 34 tries last year.
Beavers ended the year playing all three outfield spots at Triple-A. He’s on the verge of reaching the majors, and the Cardinals stand to benefit immediately.
Young is another Triple-A prospect who can become an MLB contributor this season. He totaled a 3.44 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) at Norfolk last year.
We’re not saying Young will immediately replace Gray and start in April. However, the 26-year-old can certainly fight for an opportunity to join the rotation eventually.
We included Wagner, a 2022 second-round pick, as a potential bounceback candidate. The South Carolina product hit only .109 in 19 Double-A games.
Last season marked Van Loon’s first full year as a starter, and he rewarded the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox with a 2.66 ERA in 12 games (11 starts).
The 26-year-old is currently in Orioles camp as a non-roster invitee. Admittedly, the Orioles are giving up a lot for a 35-year-old starting pitcher. However, it’s a risk worth taking if the Orioles want to win their first World Series in over 40 years.
