Checking back on yesterday's tense win, trade talks and more

The first road trip of the second half produced a 3-3 record for the Orioles, who fumbled a three-run lead in the ninth yesterday and won 7-6 in the 10th. They lead the Yankees by two games in the American League East during a stretch when they could have plummeted down the standings.

Maybe it isn’t the best division in baseball anymore.

Corbin Burnes remains one of the best pitchers and a very smart trade acquisition despite costing DL Hall and Joey Ortiz and likely being a rental. He was the stopper again yesterday before Craig Kimbrel’s blown save, holding the Marlins to three runs – the last scoring after he exited - in a season-high 7 1/3 innings for his 17^th quality start. He’s so good, his ERA actually went up from 2.38 to 2.45.

Burnes made his major league debut in Miami on July 10, 2018 and he recorded a six-out save.  He won a Cy Young Award three years later and could make it two this season.

That’s your Game 1 starter. That’s what they look like.

Colton Cowser had a three-run double Wednesday and hit a three-run homer yesterday. He batted .188 with a .580 OPS in May and .182 with a .679 OPS in June but is 12-for-43 (.279) this month. His nine RBIs already match his June total.

Beginning on July 13, Cowser has gone 10-for-27 with five walks and those nine RBIs.

Cowser made his 22^nd start in center field yesterday and he’s the everyday guy if Cedric Mullins is traded. Mullins’ name has come up in some talks but that doesn’t mean he’s actively shopped. Just that teams needing a center fielder are checking with the Orioles and could get him with the right offer.

The movement of prospects between Triple-A and the majors hasn’t included Cowser. His defense alone keeps him on the roster and usually in the lineup. Now he’s hot again.

To the fan (not here) wondering whether the Orioles might trade Anthony Santander, head examinations are now available. Make an appointment.

Santander homered again yesterday to tie Gunnar Henderson for the team lead with 28 and tie for third in the majors. He also singled in the 10^th. He should have been a triple short of the cycle after three at-bats but he was robbed twice.

A club trying to win a World Series doesn’t remove that bat.

That isn’t just punching a hole in a lineup. That’s a demolition job.

Connor Norby’s opposite-field shot yesterday gave him two home runs in five major league games. No reason why he should bounce between lineup and bench. Play him every day with Jordan Westburg at third base under the current roster setup, which I know impacts Ramón Urías. He’s the utility guy and manager Brandon Hyde will find him innings. But the Orioles need to know exactly what they’ve got in Norby, and other teams are watching, too.

Yep, right back to trade deadline talk. We can’t escape it. The Orioles begin their first second-half homestand with the Padres making a rare visit, and the series seems overshadowed by the rumors.

The Orioles reportedly are open to dealing Ryan Mountcastle, which again doesn’t mean that they’re trying hard to unload him. They could free up first base for Coby Mayo, but the gamble is that the young slugger experiences the same growing pains as Jackson Holliday and so many others making the jump. And there’s going to be a drop-off in defense no matter who replaces Mountcastle, who had three hits yesterday, including a tie-breaking single in the 10th, and especially if Ryan O’Hearn sits against a left-hander.

That said, Mayo needs to get up here. Third base, first base, designated hitter, whatever. His right-handed bat is essential.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden shared trades that he’d like to see happen. He wants the Orioles to acquire Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal – yes, more Skubal diving – for Mayo, Heston Kjerstad and Cade Povich. He wrote that “the Tigers would start the conversation by asking for second baseman Jackson Holliday or catcher Samuel Basallo and the Orioles would immediately reject either one being included in the deal.”

Every trade like this is a risk. Skubal would be under team control through 2026, which is huge for the Orioles after losing three starters to elbow surgeries and knowing that Burnes is likely to walk. But also imagine watching Mayo and Kjerstad hitting 35-40 homers a year for the Tigers. Povich’s ceiling might be mid-to-back rotation but who knows?

Interesting that Bowden thinks the Orioles would part with Mayo but not Basallo. I don’t think they trade either prospect, but I’ve been wrong before.

MLB Network’s Joel Sherman had his own trade proposal – Skubal and right-hander Jason Foley for Holliday and Kjerstad.

I don’t think they trade Holliday, whose eventual return to the Orioles snags second base from Norby, but I’ve been wrong before.

There’s also the distinct possibility that the Tigers hold onto Skubal and the White Sox do the same with Garrett Crochet and this has all been a waste of time and energy.

The Tigers definitely would move Jack Flaherty and the Athletic’s Ken Rosental reported that the Orioles haven’t ruled out trading for him again. Flaherty posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.673 WHIP in nine games (seven starts) after last year’s trade and wasn’t in the postseason rotation, but he’s registered a 2.95 ERA and 0.956 WHIP in 18 starts with Detroit.

The walks per nine innings dropped from 3.1 with the Orioles to 1.6 and hits per nine innings from 11.9 to 7.0. He’s able to repeat his delivery more consistently after making some adjustments, and he ditched his cutter. He’s a different guy than the version who wore the Orioles uniform.

This type of acquisition obviously would cost a lot less than Skubal and Crochet, and it would be the other way to go strategically. Find a veteran for the middle of the rotation to slot behind Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez. Maybe two veterans. Peel fewer players from the farm system.

The Orioles surrendered infielder César Prieto and pitchers Drew Rom and Zack Showalter to get Flaherty. Prieto was batting .302/.348/.486 yesterday with 20 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs in 83 games with Triple-A Memphis. He was blocked just as much as Ortiz.

Rom had an 8.02 ERA and 2.079 WHIP last season in eight starts with the Cardinals and underwent shoulder surgery two months ago. Showalter, an 11^th-round pick in the 2022 draft, had a 2.51 ERA yesterday, eight saves and 54 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings with Class A Palm Beach.

Showalter is the guy that the Orioles could most regret losing, but that’s life as a buyer.

The Reds’ Frankie Montas also would fit in the Flaherty mold except for his 5.01 ERA and 1.436 WHIP in 19 starts. Certainly not a guy who’s wedged between Burnes and Rodriguez.

The Cubs' Jameson Taillon also is linked to the Orioles again, a deadline and winter tradition. A guy who could be a No. 3, with a 2.96 ERA this year in 17 starts.

* The Orioles released Jonathan Heasley, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday.

Heasley hadn't pitched since June 11. He was on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.