Notes on trade deadline, Davis' status and new rules (updated)

The trade deadline is exactly one week away and the mystery surrounding it is one of the many new twists to the season. One of the great unknowns that's become timely.

Executives really have no idea how it's going to evolve with the expanded playoff field perhaps reducing the number of sellers.

Relievers usually are in demand and the Red Sox traded two during their trip to Baltimore, sending Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree to the Phillies. The Orioles dealt left-hander Richard Bleier to the Marlins on July 31, the normal deadline date.

The Orioles have a few other bullpen arms that could interest teams, most notably Mychal Givens, who was charged with his first run yesterday after leaving the game. Tanner Scott holds value that's soaring - don't mark him down for Jackie Bradley Jr.'s home run - but the Orioles may want to keep him based on his dominance as a left-hander and contract status. He can't become a free agent until 2025 and is a potential piece for the rebuild.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias didn't share any of his discussions while speaking with the media Saturday in a video conference call, but he's got to be fielding calls about his relievers. And he won't shy away from consummating more trades simply because the Orioles are .500.

"When you're trying to develop starting pitchers, being able to hand off games to quality relievers is nice. It puts less pressure on the manager to stretch those young starters. So there's a lot of value to it for any club," Elias said.

"Obviously, if you're a playoff-bound team or you're in a playoff race, I think relievers are more valuable to you than anyone else. And particularly in a season like this where I guess you might think of it like, the proportion of the season these relievers are going to throw, it's greater than normal, and I think that their impact is going to decide some of these races, maybe a little bit more than normal. So I think there's some extra value on the relievers this year because of that possibly.

"And when you're looking at guys that are approaching free agency or nearing it and you're a young team and you're growing for the future, you've got to think and plan ahead, too, and give some repetitions to younger guys that are part of your long-term plan. So all of that weighs in. But I think as you saw (Friday) night, there's still a lot of value in this game being placed on relievers."

* Shortstop José Iglesias is eligible to come off the injured list Wednesday. Outfielder Austin Hays is further behind with the discomfort persisting in his rib cage. Reliever Hunter Harvey should be able to return by the end of August.

First baseman Chris Davis, meanwhile, is out indefinitely with left knee patellar tendinitis. The Orioles aren't pretending to attach a timeline for his return. But Elias stated over the weekend that he isn't aware of any discussions regarding a shutdown that would last through the remainder of the season.

"I haven't heard any talk like that yet," Elias said.

"He has had a sore knee for a few weeks now. He's been playing through it and kind of intermittently getting treatment. It had been bothering him more the last week, the last few days. Obviously, the performance hasn't been there and I think that when you're struggling and playing through an injury, you can probably take a closer look at giving it the rest it needs and getting past it. So we'll see, but I'd say it's more likely something that is on a week-to-week basis than anything where we're looking at shutting him down and making a decision to shut him down long-term."

* The new rules implemented in a shortened season have been under scrutiny since Major League Baseball introduced them and made a couple of adjustments.

Manager Brandon Hyde has been given 28 games to form his opinion.

And to wonder why MLB didn't offer more protection in the final month.

"I wish one they'd put in would be the expanded roster in September. I'm not understanding that one," he said.

"I like the three-batter minimum. I think I've talked about that before. I like the three-batter minimum, but I wish that we would be able to make a pitching change if they pinch-hit. So I'd like to have that adjusted.

"I do like the extra-inning rule, especially for this year. I think it's exciting and it saves your pitching staff. So I like both of those rules. I just wish they would change it a little bit. But I would like to see expanded rosters in September."

The Orioles are 3-1 under the new extra-inning rules with a runner placed on second base.

Note: Tommy Milone is starting Tuesday night against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Tyler Glasnow gets the start for Tampa Bay.