The Orioles have one of the best teams in the MLB, with more talent sitting on the IL. With this talent returning, that spells trouble for a few players.
The Baltimore Orioles have one of the most talented and complete rosters in the entire MLB, especially after adding Jack Flaherty and more talent at the deadline. But even with how talented they are, they are still missing key pieces to their roster that sit on the injured list. This includes starting outfielder Cedric Mullins and breakout star Aaron Hicks.
With these talented players soon returning from the IL, the front office will have to move some of their talent back to Triple-A, starting with one of the league's best prospects.
Orioles rumors: Top prospect Colton Cowser will likely be in Triple-A later this month
Sadly for Baltimore, their number two prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hasn't panned out this season as many expected. That prospect, of course, is the 23-year-old outfielder, Colton Cowser. Now, don't fret Orioles fans, as this doesn't have anything to do with his talent or his long-term future with the Orioles. He has incredible talent and has already proven to be way too talented for Triple-A.
But the Orioles are in a serious "win now" situation, sitting atop the daunting AL East with under two months to go. This kind of situation will call for them to play their best "win now" players at all times, rather than letting the young outfielder figure it out at the highest level. To make matters worse for Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Aaron Hicks are both nearing returns from the injured list, which would ultimately move him back to Triple-A for the season.
Ultimately, this is just a decision that needs to be made. Cowser may not be the first player on the active roster to be moved to Triple-A, but as long as the Orioles move into September with a healthy roster, he will likely spend that time in Triple-A, with the potential to be called up as a September call-up.
Orioles rumors: Ryan McKenna will likely be optioned when Aaron Hicks and Cedric Mullins return
Ryan McKenna finds himself in a very similar boat as Colton Cowser does. Albeit McKenna's potential is far less than Cowser's, they will likely be the two outfielders that are optioned when the injured Hicks and Mullins return later this month. Both of these injured outfielders are having good years and nearing returns, with these returns likely coming within the next two weeks.
McKenna hasn't been great this year, but he's provided value to Baltimore. On the season, he's slashing .248/.304/.366 in 71 games. For the most part, he's been a good defensive outfielder that provides the Orioles with depth and spot starts since they're missing two key outfielders. Problems for him arise when you look at his last month of action, where he's been needed the most. In the last 28 days, he's slashing .227/.261/.273 with 1 extra-base hit in 22 at-bats. These kinds of offensive stats won't carry his weight down the stretch of a push to win the division.
McKenna may last on the roster longer than Cowser, thanks to his defense and his experience being a bit more than Cowser's. But the fact is McKenna and Cowser will both find themselves in Triple-A when the Orioles are fully healthy. There's just no way around it.
Orioles rumors: Joey Krehbiel will be the first reliever to be moved to Triple-A in August
The Baltimore Orioles have one of the deeper and more talented bullpens in the entire MLB, headlined by their closer Felix Bautista, who very well could receive Cy Young consideration this year. But at the front end of the pen, they have a few expendable pieces, namely Joey Krehbiel who likely won't make it the entire month in the MLB with the Orioles.
Simply put, Krehbiel just hasn't been used much for Baltimore and they have a few pieces returning soon that could provide more use for them down the stretch. Krehbiel spent time on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder earlier this year. To replace him, Baltimore would look to the injured list as well.
Austin Voth and Mychal Givens are both nearing returns after extended stays on the IL. Obviously, one of these two, if not both, will need to rehab and prove their worth in order to replace Krehbiel on the roster, but that scenario seems quite likely at this point in time. Givens and Voth have both had solid careers prior to 2023 and have shown the ability to pitch down the stretch of the dog days of Summer. For Krehbiel to stay in Baltimore, there would have to be setbacks among the injured relievers.
