BALTIMORE -- How aggressive will the Orioles be to add pitching at the Trade Deadline? When is slugging infielder Coby Mayo getting his first call to The Show? And, speaking of prospects, how is Jackson Holliday doing and when could he return to the Major Leagues?

Prior to the penultimate game of the first half of the season on Saturday against the Yankees, Baltimore general manager Mike Elias met with the media to discuss a wide range of topics. He was also asked about some of the aforementioned hot topics that have recently been at the forefront of many O’s fans’ minds.

Let’s break down Elias’ responses as the American League East-leading Orioles (57-37 entering Saturday) prepare to head into the All-Star break.

When will the O’s add pitching (and are they willing to spend)?
It’s no secret what Baltimore must do to bolster its roster for a postseason push: add pitching.

The Orioles’ rotation has lost three starters to season-ending UCL surgeries (Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells), and the bullpen is missing two of its biggest pieces from last year (All-Star closer Félix Bautista and Danny Coulombe).

“My impression of the strengths and weaknesses of our roster are probably not different than any of yours, or anyone who’s been following the team,” Elias said.

But the Trade Deadline isn’t until July 30. Baltimore’s front-office staff is currently focused on the MLB Draft, which begins Sunday, and the trade market hasn’t quite developed yet.

Some of the Majors’ 30 teams are still trying to figure out if they’ll be buyers or sellers.

“There’s a whole market forming. It’s going to be very competitive. It’s probably going to be tough to line up on things,” Elias said. “I’m really confident that we’re going to be really well prepared and that we’re going to have the tools and the chips necessary -- and the ownership support necessary -- at our disposal to explore this Deadline to the fullest, with the intention of bringing in help for the team, for the 2024 team.”

This will be the Orioles’ first Trade Deadline since the team was sold to an ownership group led by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein.

“They're prepared to support our pursuits in that area,” Elias said. “It doesn't mean it's definitely, 100 percent going to happen, but I view our ownership situation as being a positive. As we've seen, they're a very passionate, very robust group. And they see the talent on the team and they want to support that. But they also understand that, baseball ops, there’s discipline involved.”

Is it almost Mayo’s time?
Mayo (Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect, MLB Pipeline’s No. 15 overall) has been raking for Triple-A Norfolk all season -- both before and after a stint on the injured list due to a fractured rib from mid-May to mid-June.

Entering Saturday, the 22-year-old third baseman/first baseman was slashing .297/.380/.606 with 16 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs and 56 RBIs through 63 Triple-A games.

“He’s in an exceptionally good spot,” Elias said. “We talk about him all the time. He’s very close. He’s going to help us this year. It’s just about the right moment and the right opportunity and the right runway for something like that to happen, and there’s moving parts.”

The Orioles would need to clear space to make room for Mayo, barring an injury. But the 2020 fourth-round Draft pick is starting to force the organization’s hand.

“The fact I’m talking about him at a press conference right now -- he’s right there,” Elias said. “We’re thinking about it, we’re working on it. I’m sure it’s coming very soon.”

How about Holliday?
It has been a tough year for Holliday, the No. 1 prospect in baseball. The 20-year-old infielder struggled during a 2-for-34 debut stint in the Majors in late April, then he had a stint on the Triple-A IL from June 14-25 due to right elbow inflammation.

Since returning to Norfolk, Holliday is hitting .250 (10-for-40), though he has exclusively played at designated hitter while still recovering from his ailment. He is scheduled to return to the field shortly after the All-Star break, according to Elias.

Perhaps, at some point in the second half, Baltimore’s big league roster will feature both Holliday and Mayo.

“I think both of those players have a very good chance of contributing heavily to the 2024 Orioles,” Elias said, “and I could see them doing it at the same time, too.”