The Baltimore Orioles haven’t won a playoff series in a decade, and they might look to a division rival to change that.
With a strong core of young positional players like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, the Orioles are well-positioned for the future. However, they may need to leverage their deep farm system to make a blockbuster, win-now trade that could spark a deep postseason run. One potential target: Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Rumors suggest Guerrero could be traded as he enters his final year before free agency. Dylan Sanders of On SI speculated on the type of offer it would take for Baltimore to land the slugger:
“When it comes to bidding wars in trade talks, no team can offer more than Baltimore,” Sanders wrote. “It would almost certainly require parting with at least one of Coby Mayo or Samuel Basallo. While losing them would sting, Guerrero would provide an immediate upgrade. Additional pieces like a young starter such as Cade Povich or a prospect like Trace Bright would be easier to part with.”
Even as a potential one-year rental for a team that may not be able to re-sign him, Guerrero would demand a hefty return. The 25-year-old is a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and has hit at least 26 home runs in each of the last four seasons. Former first baseman Carlos Baerga recently projected Guerrero’s next contract to be worth at least $450 million.
Landing Guerrero would likely require the Orioles to include one of their top prospects. Mayo, ranked as the No. 8 prospect in baseball, and Basallo, ranked No. 13, are the crown jewels of Baltimore’s system. While one of them would headline the trade package, additional pieces would likely be needed. Povich, who made 16 starts for the Orioles in 2024 and is years away from arbitration eligibility, could be an attractive option for a rebuilding Blue Jays team.
As the Orioles aim to capitalize on their young core and contend for a World Series in 2025 and beyond, trading some of their best prospects for a game-changing player like Guerrero might be the bold move they need.
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