Orioles Have Had Conversations On Three Surprising Names
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Orioles have had trade conversations with other teams involving catcher Adley Rutschman, infielder Jackson Holliday, and outfielder Colton Cowser.
The willingness to discuss that trio of young, controllable talents shows just how much Baltimore's front office is willing to consider as it navigates a lost season.
Adley Rutschman
Rutschman is the most established name of the group and the one drawing the most concrete interest.
Passan gave the two-time All-Star catcher roughly a 30 percent chance of being traded, and Baltimore's recent extension of catching prospect Samuel Basallo has created a positional logjam that makes moving Rutschman more logical than it once seemed.
The Orioles have had conversations with other teams on Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, and Colton Cowser, per @JeffPassan
— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) July 28, 2026
“This young core that they brought together that they thought was going to take them to the promise land just has not performed to the level expected.” pic.twitter.com/Yb2pefJNfJ
He is bouncing back with an .811 OPS this season and comes with control through 2027, making him one of the most valuable trade chips in baseball if the Orioles decide to move him.
Contenders like the Pirates, Rangers, and Astros have been floated as potential fits.
Jackson Holliday
Holliday is the most surprising inclusion.
The former No. 1 overall prospect and son of Matt Holliday has developed into a productive second baseman and was long considered a foundational piece of Baltimore's future, so the fact that his name has come up at all speaks to how open the front office is being.
Jackson Hollidays last 15 games
— ZFarm (@ZFARM_) July 28, 2026
.410 AVG
.520 OBP
.487 SLG
10 BB
For those that gave up on him stay on that side. pic.twitter.com/GbuNM40jcJ
Any deal involving Holliday would require an overwhelming return given his youth, pedigree, and years of club control.
It is far more likely that these are exploratory conversations than a indication Baltimore intends to move him, but the willingness to listen is surprising.
Colton Cowser
Cowser rounds out the trio as another young, controllable outfielder.
The former first-round pick has flashed power and strong defense, and like the others, he would command significant value on the market.
For a team that has struggled to meet expectations in 2026, moving a piece like Cowser could help replenish the farm system or address other needs.
An absurd catch by Colton Cowser yesterday!
— The WARmonger (@TheWARmonger_) July 28, 2026
5% catch probability on this ball (3% rounded up) from Statcast, Cowser covers 97 feet into the gap for the diving grab! https://t.co/dPxtjYLGVI
Whether any of these conversations lead to an actual deal will depend on whether the Orioles fully commit to selling, but the front office is clearly leaving no stone unturned as it weighs the direction of the franchise.
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