Orioles acquire Rogers from Marlins for Norby and Stowers

The Orioles found another starting pitcher before this evening’s trade deadline. It cost them a pair of major league-caliber players, including their No. 5 prospect.

Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers, 26, was acquired from the Marlins for second baseman Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers, according to multiple sources. Norby will be removed from the major league roster after appearing in five of the last six lineups. He sat for Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader and had a double in the nightcap for his first hit at Camden Yards.

Rogers was the 13^th-overall pick in the 2017 draft who’s gone 15-32 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.385 WHIP in 80 starts on some pretty bad teams. He’s posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP this season in 21 games but has a 3.32 ERA in his last eight starts.

Rogers appeared in only four games last season due to biceps, lat and shoulder injuries. He was an All-Star in 2021 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting with a 2.64 ERA and 1.150 WHIP in 25 outings, striking out 157 batters in 133 innings.

The Orioles can field a rotation with Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Rogers, however the last two are aligned. They didn’t show a willingness to part with the top prospects in their system despite rumors tying them to Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet and Blake Snell.

The trade also puts a lefty in the rotation with John  Means out for the season following a second Tommy John surgery. And it gives the Orioles another controllable starter, his free agency coming after 2026. Eflin is under contract next season at $18 million.

These are key considerations with Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells on the injured list to start 2025.

Infielder Terrin Vavra is headed to Baltimore, according to a source, and can play second base with Norby gone.

MLB Pipeline ranks Norby No. 5 in the system. The second-round pick in 2021 from East Carolina was 6-for-32 with the Orioles in multiple stints, along with his short periods on the taxi squad. The defense has improved, he also can play left field and he slashed .297/.389/.519 with 21 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs and 57 RBIs in 80 games with Triple-A Norfolk.

Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 prospect, eventually will be the full-time second baseman. He's an untouchable in trade talks. Jordan Westburg presented another obstacle for Norby.

Jorge Mateo's dislocated left elbow didn't prompt the Orioles to hold onto Norby.

Stowers also found himself blocked, a left-handed hitting outfielder in an organization with Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad. He rode the Triple-A shuttle and seemed to be a chip all along.

Stowers batted .306/.297/.500 in 19 games with the Orioles. He can play anywhere in the outfield.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported that the Orioles traded for Rogers. FanSided's Robert Murray had Norby in the deal and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand had Stowers' inclusion. Sources confirmed all three.

The Orioles remain in the market for a late-inning reliever and have maintained interest in Marlins left-hander Tanner Scott, per sources.

I’ve heard that Norfolk catcher Blake Hunt is at Camden Yards today, a result of James McCann being hit in the face with a fastball yesterday in Game 1. McCann could go on the injured list, or Hunt might be here on the taxi squad just in case it happens.

McCann was believed to have suffered a broken nose. His left eye was almost closed yesterday.