Updating Brach trade talks and O's interest in Mesa (O's up 12-3)

As the Orioles focus on trying to move the rest of their pending free agents following trades this month that sent shortstop Manny Machado to the Dodgers and reliever Zach Britton to the Yankees, they are talking to multiple teams about reliever Brad Brach while attempting to complete a deal by Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline.

The Cubs, Rockies and Indians are maintaining interest in Brach, according to a source.

Brach is 1-2 with 11 saves, a 4.85 ERA and 1.769 WHIP in 42 games over 39 innings, significant increases over his 3.18 ERA and 1.132 WHIP last summer in 67 games over 68 innings. However, his track record and ability to set up and close have made him an attractive option for a handful of clubs

The month of July has been a challenge for Brach, who's allowed eight earned runs (10 total) and 13 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .406/.441/.719 against him.

The non-waiver deadline arrives at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Players still can be traded beyond it, but they first must pass through waivers.

The Indians, Giants and Phillies continue to engage in talks with the Orioles regarding center fielder Adam Jones, per a source. They seem to be the three teams with the most interest.

Jones would have to waive his 10-5 rights and approve of a trade. The Orioles seem open to re-signing him over the winter and he's expressed an interest in remaining in the organization and continuing his charitable work in the community.

Meanwhile, multiple reports have surfaced that the Orioles are close to a deal with Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa. However, an industry source said Mesa, 22, remains ineligible to sign because Major League Baseball hasn't granted its approval.

The interest is real, however, and it's significant given Mesa's stature in the international market.

The Orioles have been tracking Mesa and are waiting for him to become a free agent. They'll attend his showcase once he's cleared.

The Marlins also are making a strong push to sign Mesa, according to reports.

Playing for Matanzas in the Cuban National Series league in 2016-17, Mesa posted a .354/.399/.539 slash line with 14 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 44 RBIs in 70 games and he stole 40 bases in 50 attempts.

MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez wrote the following yesterday on Mesa, regarded as the top international prospect if eligible:

"Here's what we know: Victor Victor Mesa, 22, is considered an outstanding outfield defender with a strong arm. He's a plus runner and scouts like athleticism and pedigree. He made his debut for Matanzas in Cuba's Serie Nacional, the island's top league, at 16. He had three hits, including two doubles, in seven at-bats for Cuba during last year's World Baseball Classic."

Sanchez listed the Orioles as a darkhorse to sign Sanchez, adding, "General manager Dan Duquette recently said that there are plans to revamp the club's approach to the international market, and there's no bigger way to reemerge on the international scene than signing top Cuban international prospects once they become available."

Duquette stated to the media during a conference call following the Machado trade that the Orioles would become more active in the international market and beef up their scouting department. Their pursuit of Mesa is solid proof.

"Right now, we know we have a lot of work to do and to the extent that we can trade veteran players for the best young talent we can get that will help us get together the kind of talent base that we need to compete against these clubs in the future," Duquette said. "But it's also going to mean additional resources we're going to have to put into our international recruiting. We've got some upgrading to with our professional scouting and the expansion of our international scouting department. As well as additional resources in analytics that we need to add to become more competitive."

The Machado trade netted Cuban outfielder Yusniel Díaz, who received a $15. 5 million bonus from the Dodgers. And the Orioles have invested previously in Cuban players Henry Urrutia, Dariel Álvarez, Ariel Miranda and Lazaro Leyva, but none of the bonuses exceeded $800,000. Only Álvarez remains in the organization and he's been on a throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Triple-A Norfolk catcher Andrew Susac went on the seven-day disabled list today after taking a foul ball off his left forearm last night in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Harbor Park. It's believed that he sustained a fracture.

Catcher Armando Araiza and left-hander Chris Lee were reinstated from the disabled list. Araiza is catching Jimmy Yacabonis tonight.

Heavy rain continues to fall at Camden Yards, a storm that earlier included chunks of hail. Small lakes have formed in shallow left and right field.

Update: Andrew Cashner threw 25 pitches in the top of the first inning and fell behind 1-0 on Ji-Man Choi's ground ball that scored Ryan Kiermaier, who led off with a single and advanced on a walk to Joey Wendle.

Update II: Tim Beckham led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored with one out on Jones' single to tie the game 1-1.

Update III: The Orioles scored twice in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Danny Valencia had an RBI single and Chris Davis came home on right fielder Carlos Gomez's throwing error.

Update IV: Schoop has homered in five straight games and the Orioles lead 4-1 heading to the top of the sixth inning.

Update V: Cashner loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but surrendered only one run on Daniel Robertson's sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 4-2.

Update VI: The Rays pulled within 4-3 on Beckham's throwing error in the top of the seventh, but they scored eight runs in the bottom half to lead 12-3. Schoop had two run-scoring singles, Jones hit a three-run homer and Joey Rickard delivered a three-run double.