Orioles first baseman listed among potential offseason trade chips

The Baltimore Orioles have some work to do this offseason if they want to remain a postseason contender.

After winning 91 games and capturing the top American League Wild Card spot, they were swept in the first round by the Kansas City Royals. Now, they have some questions to answer, as Corbin Burnes is now a free agent.

The Orioles could potentially re-sign Burnes, sign another pitcher or even trade for one. But if they go the trade route, they might ultimately find themselves ready to part ways with first baseman Ryan Mountcastle.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report listed him as a potential trade chip.

"With Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo making their MLB debuts last season and with C/1B Samuel Basallo not terribly far behind them, the Orioles have a serious surplus of IF/DH options," Miller wrote.

"The return for Mountcastle will be nowhere near what they could have gotten for Mayo, but there's also no shortage of teams in need of a first baseman. Baltimore might need to wait until all of Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Santana sign as free agents, but there are easily more than five teams looking for one."

The Orioles might not get an ace for Mountcastle unless he's packaged with one of their top young players. But they do have a logjam on the position player side, especially with infielders.

This may make Mountcastle expendable. If he's traded, they can go with one of their top prospects at first base.

He could land them a middle-to-back-end starter if he's traded, but it will be interesting to see if teams will make a bid for him to fill their first base needs.

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