If you have an ace, should you consider trading such a player?

A caller to my postgame radio show on Tuesday night expressed a take that the Orioles could trade left-hander John Means, and that they could get a big package of prospects for their ace pitcher.

Other fans have expressed concerns that the club would even consider such a move.

While none of us know exactly how executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias feels on this topic, we do know that he would only be doing his job to field offers for any player at any time. That doesn't mean he would make such a deal or that he is looking to move a player. He would be doing his due diligence.

And while I don't get a say in O's player moves and I guess there is a price in a deal on any player, if it turns out that Means is indeed now a No. 1 pitcher, haven't the Orioles been looking for that type of guy since Mike Mussina?

If they indeed have drafted and developed a homegrown ace, it is my hope they hang on to such a player and reap their rewards. So many teams are not able to develop such pitchers and wind up paying a heavy price to get one.

In December 2019, the New York Yankees signed free agent right-hander Gerrit Cole to a nine-year deal worth $324 million. He will earn $36 million this season and every season through 2028. By comparison, Means has yet to become even eligible for salary arbitration. When he does become eligible, he will get a nice raise. But that won't happen until before the 2022 season. Means cannot be a free agent until after the 2024 season.

In seven starts this year, Cole is 4-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 0.716 WHIP, has allowed 5.8 hits per nine innings with 13.3 strikeouts.

In eight starts this year, Means is 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA, 0.712 WHIP, has allowed 4.7 hits per nine with 9.2 strikeouts.

Cole has dominant stuff but right now, so does Means. He's been among the best pitchers in baseball, by almost any standard you want to use.

This has not been just a two- or three-start fluke or a good run, but it is beginning to look like who he is right now. An ace pitcher.

The Orioles have plenty of time to sign Means long-term if they want to do that. And maybe they need to start pondering the possibility of him heading up their rotation for the next four, six or even 10 years. Maybe he is that guy. After years of searching for an ace, maybe they found one.

Birdland can dream that in a year or two Means may be heading up a rotation that also includes DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez. Those two young pitching prospects have combined to allow one run in 16 2/3 innings so far, with 31 strikeouts. So, yeah, pretty good.

It's a big if, but if those three all prove to be legit top-of-rotation-type talents, the Orioles' future rotation could be the envy of baseball with three young, homegrown talents with a lot of team control remaining.

Trade Means?

The Orioles should always listen, and if the Red Sox can trade Mookie Betts, maybe the Orioles can trade Means. But here is a hope that he is around here for many years to come, showing the way for other young pitchers and leading a homegrown rotation that leads the Orioles back to the playoffs.