Feelers out for O's hitters, Rox hurlers

We’re still more than seven weeks from the July 30 Trade Deadline, but executives around the Majors are already working the phones in an attempt to bolster their rosters for the second half of the season.

“It feels like basic June price-checking so far to me,” one American League executive said.

One team fielding a number of calls, according to sources, is the Orioles, who have seen their season fall apart after getting off to a respectable 15-16 start. Since May 7, Baltimore is 6-22, a run that included 14 consecutive losses to finish May.

Although the Orioles -- who actually won four of their first five games in June -- are still in the midst of their rebuilding process under general manager Mike Elias, the roster features a number of pieces who could net some good young talent in return.

• Trade Deadline talk: Best fit for Story? Max?

That list is headed by Trey Mancini, who missed all of 2020 while fighting colon cancer. Mancini has been one of the few bright spots for the Orioles this season, entering Tuesday with an .833 OPS, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 57 games.

Mancini has split time between the outfield and first base during his career, though he has been a first baseman or designated hitter in all 55 of his starts as of Tuesday.

“I think he’s more of a first baseman/DH at this point,” a National League executive said. “But the fact that he can run around out there is certainly a plus. I would be surprised if someone traded for him to be an everyday outfielder, but there are definitely teams that are OK taking a little hit on defense to add a bat, so I suppose that could happen.”

Mancini’s contract situation -- he’s earning $4.75 million this year and is arbitration eligible for the final time next winter -- and versatility could make him attractive to offensively challenged clubs, allowing him to slot into a couple of different positions in the lineup.

“Particularly for an AL team, he could help at first base, outfield and DH,” an NL exec said. “Someone may look at him as additional depth and to help lengthen their lineup, so I’d think there would be interest. He’s also supposed to be an A-plus of a human being, which is always something nice to add to your clubhouse midseason.”

Anthony Santander has seen his production dip this year after his 2019 breakout and strong '20 campaign. He entered Tuesday with a .717 OPS and just three home runs, but the 26-year-old right fielder is earning just $2.1 million this season and comes with three more years of club control, which could make him an attractive trade chip.

Among the Orioles’ expiring contracts, only Freddy Galvis (.781 OPS, nine homers) figures to have any trade value. Neither Matt Harvey (6.62 ERA) nor Maikel Franco (.592 OPS) is playing well enough to generate much interest. Baltimore could also receive interest in some of its relievers, none of which has even reached the arbitration process yet.

Two players not expected to be moved are Cedric Mullins and John Means, who are both having excellent seasons for the underperforming Orioles. Each is earning less than $600,000 this season, as Means will become arbitration eligible for the first time next winter and Mullins is set to do the same after the 2022 season.

Could the Orioles try to sell high on either or both players, or does Elias view both Means and Mullins as key pieces of the rebuilding effort? Whether the front office views them as legitimate building blocks or overperformers will determine the answer to that question.

“It would be surprising [to see either get traded], but they might be selling high, right?” an NL executive said. “This is where internal evaluations are so critical.”

Baltimore’s asking prices are said to be high -- one executive called the requested haul for Santander “insane” -- which reflects the time of year, as sellers tend to want more to part with players nearly two months before the Trade Deadline.

But if two-thirds of the league remains in postseason contention come late July, those asking prices could go even higher based on supply and demand.

Arms race in Colorado?
While the baseball world waits to see if and when Trevor Story is traded this summer, the Rockies will be drawing interest in more than just their shortstop.

Both Germán Márquez and Jon Gray are already on the radar for several teams, though there’s no guarantee the Rockies will move either starting pitcher, let alone both of them.

Márquez has a 3.91 ERA in 13 starts this season, striking out 75 batters in 71 1/3 innings. Gray has a 4.29 ERA in 12 starts, and while he was placed on the injured list this week with a right flexor strain, an MRI exam revealed no structural damage, putting him on track to return after a short IL stint.

The interest in Márquez is already there, sources said, which is no surprise given his contract situation: the 26-year-old right-hander is signed through 2023 ($7.5 million this season, $11 million in '22, $15 million in '23), with a $16 million club option for '24.

Gray offers an experienced rental arm at a reasonable price; the 29-year-old is earning $6 million this season and is slated to become a free agent this fall, though his trade value will likely depend on how he performs when he comes back. The Rockies could try to bring Gray back on a new deal after the season, which could cause them to rethink the idea of trading him before the end of July.

“He’s a guy who has never minded pitching [in Colorado] and who has been there forever,” an NL exec said of Gray, who was drafted by the Rockies with the No. 3 overall pick in 2013. “That rotation has some talented guys; it could be something to build around for the future.”