A few thoughts on trade deadline and assorted rumors

The increasingly unusual nature of baseball’s trade deadline, where teams can behave like buyers and sellers depending on which direction the wind blows, sets up the Orioles to do what used to be unthinkable. Shaking up a first-place roster like it’s a snow globe.

The club will undergo changes by Tuesday evening, but just how drastic is the mystery. Flurries or a blizzard?

Austin Hays is gone in a swap of players on the major league rosters. That didn’t used to be a common maneuver, two contenders engaging in this sort of activity. The Orioles reportedly are willing to move Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle in their ongoing pursuit of pitching and perhaps a right-handed bat.

Timing is everything, of course, and they played huge roles in yesterday’s 8-6 win. Mullins had a two-run double to give him six RBIs in his last four at-bats, and he made a spectacular catch to rob Manny Machado in the eighth. Mountcastle drove in four runs and scooped a Gunnar Henderson ball out of the dirt.

Maybe it became less likely that Mullins would be dealt after Hays went to the Phillies, but that’s just more speculation. And would parting with Mullins open the door for Kyle Stowers, a left-handed hitter like Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad? It didn’t seem possible for them to co-exist with the Orioles until recently.

Not everyone in the industry is sold on the Orioles keeping Cristian Pache as a right-handed outfielder who’s coveted for his defense, but they don’t get a vote. The lack of offensive production makes him a steep decline from Hays, who heated up at the time of the trade and was batting .323/.389/.492 against left-handers. Coby Mayo is waiting in the wings and the Orioles still are checking on right-handed hitters.

Mayo is a corner infielder until the Orioles start working him into the outfield in spring training. He could replace Mountcastle in theory, though that’s another big change in a pennant race if he’s an everyday player. And I don’t think you bring up Mayo to sit.

There’s nothing wrong with keeping Mountcastle and Mayo on the roster. The Orioles can make room. But there’s also the question of what Mountcastle can bring in a trade.

He’d rather stay.

Top-tier starters Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet suddenly appear more inclined to remain with their clubs, especially after the latter’s agents said the left-hander wouldn’t pitch in the postseason without a contract extension and wouldn’t move to the bullpen. The Athletic reported that the Orioles have “serious interest” in Giants left-hander Blake Snell, but there are hurdles, and the heights depend on who you’re talking to – specifically, which players the Orioles would part with in return.

Update: Now we see reports that Crochet probably will be dealt. Enjoy the roller coaster.

I spoke to a National League executive over the weekend who said the Orioles won’t discuss Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo or Samuel Basallo from the farm system or Colton Cowser on the major league club, and that’s an impression shared by some other front office personnel. But we keep reading trade proposals in the media, sodium levels rising from all the grains of salt, that make it appear that the top three prospects are attainable.

If that isn’t the case, it’s obviously a lot harder to snatch a starter who doesn’t slot mid-to-back in the rotation, which is why we’re also hearing names like Jack Flaherty, Frankie Montas and Yusei Kikuchi.

Basallo wasn’t in Double-A Bowie’s lineup yesterday. I’m sure that raised the volume level on the chatter.

Snell has an opt-out clause in his contract that he’s expected to exercise rather than take the $30 million in 2025 with $15 million deferred. That makes him a likely rental, which is supposed to lower the return.

Sources have confirmed that the Orioles are pursuing a reunion with Marlins closer Tanner Scott, and adding a left-hander to the bullpen makes all kinds of sense. They’re working hard on it, but they might have to part with at least one of those top prospects and that just doesn’t seem feasible. And he’s another rental on top of it.

The right side was addressed Friday afternoon with Seranthony Domínguez, who came from the Phillies with Zach Eflin.

“You like the pedigree,” said pitching coach Drew French. “You like the resume and the big game experience and pitching in the World Series and big moments. You go through his game log of ’22 and ’23 and there’s a lot of postseason games, there’s a lot of punchouts and big moments for him.

“We like the arm, obviously. It’s big-time velo and two breaking balls, and that’s kind of something that our bullpen hasn’t necessarily had at this point this year, so somebody consistent with some versatility out there and a big arm.”

Domínguez retired the side in order yesterday in the eighth, with a huge assist from Mullins on his incredible catch that Statcast still graded in probability as if it were a routine popup.

“Really good stuff,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “It’s an upper-90s fastball and a couple of sliders. So far, so good.”

So far, Domínguez hasn’t been used in a save situation. That could change if Craig Kimbrel doesn’t get hot again.

Hyde chose Yennier Cano yesterday and the right-hander survived two infield hits, a bloop single and a controversial force at second base to notch the save. Cano has allowed 19 earned runs in 32 innings in the ninth inning during his career.

Cade Povich is in Baltimore as the 27^th man for today’s doubleheader. He’s starting Game 2 after Zach Eflin makes his Orioles debut.

The Orioles optioned Povich on July 13 with the break approaching after he compiled a 6.27 ERA and 1.545 WHIP in seven outings. He could go right back down to Triple-A Norfolk or the Orioles could remove another pitcher from the active roster.

A trade for another starting pitcher kills Povich’s chance to stay in the rotation.