Why Orioles could trade 4.99 ERA starter despite desire to avoid a rebuild

The Baltimore Orioles spent a ton this offseason, and likely envisioned being postseason contenders after a down 2025 season.

But, so far in 2026, the 39-45 Orioles haven't been playing as well as they hoped. If this continues, the Orioles will likely be sellers this summer.

Even though MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan notes the Orioles likely want to avoid a rebuild again, there are still some players who could be dealt. One of which is a 4.99 ERA left-handed starting pitcher, Trevor Rogers.

Why Trevor Rogers could be traded by Orioles

"The Orioles aren't far removed from a large-scale rebuild, so they'll probably stay the course with their current core rather than tearing it all down again," Harrigan writes. "However, they have some pending free agents who could be of interest, including Rogers."

Baltimore likely doesn't want to enter another lengthy rebuild, so keeping the team together for the most part would be ideal.

Shane Baz, and any other player who is under club control beyond the 2026 season, is likely to stick in Baltimore for at least the next year or so.

However, Rogers and others who will be free agents after the 2026 season could be players the team looks to trade this summer.

Rogers, the 28-year-old lefty, has a 4.99 ERA this season and is a free agent after 2026. He's regressed significantly from his 2025 season, where he had a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts. This year, he has a 4.99 ERA in 15 starts.

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They could hold onto him if the Orioles are still fighting for a postseason spot come the August 3 trade deadline. But if they fall out of the race, then trading some players away, especially in a seller's market, would make a ton of sense.

Of course, they're more likely to trade the players in the final year of their current contracts. Rogers, who's had his ups and downs during his seven seasons in the Majors, would be a solid trade chip.

Contenders are always looking for pitching, and Rogers, a lefty rental who has some high-highs, would surely have some interest this summer.

As Harrigan noted, Rogers is someone the Orioles could trade, as his departure wouldn't send the team back into a rebuild, which they're trying to avoid.

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