BALTIMORE — When the Orioles traded right-hander Bryan Baker to the Rays in exchange for the No. 37 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft on Thursday morning, it appeared Baltimore’s Trade Deadline strategy may be set. The O’s looked like a team operating as a potential seller.
General manager Mike Elias acknowledged it, too, stating the Baker trade was “a step in that direction.”
Then, the Orioles went out and swept a Thursday doubleheader vs. the Mets at Camden Yards, leading interim manager Tony Mansolino to address the elephant in the room.
“You guys don’t want to hear it, but there’s still time, and despite making a move this morning,” Mansolino said afterward. “I’m sure our obituary was probably getting written somewhere this morning because we made a trade.”
Mansolino could be right. It may be too early to proclaim the O’s postseason aspirations dead.
In the 36 hours since the Baker trade, Baltimore has won all three games it has played. The Orioles followed Thursday’s sweep with a 5-2 victory in Friday night’s series opener against the Marlins at Camden Yards, as they got seven scoreless innings from Dean Kremer and two RBIs apiece from All-Star Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano.
The O’s (43-50) improved to seven games below .500 for the first time since May 4 (13-20).
Kremer yielded only three hits (all singles) and one walk while striking out seven. The 29-year-old right-hander retired 21 of the 25 Miami batters he faced.
Baltimore has gotten five starts of seven or more scoreless innings this season. Three have come from Kremer, who also blanked the Royals (May 2) and Rays (June 29) for seven each.
