The Orioles' injury woes continue, with a trio of relievers seeking second opinions and the team's trade market looking increasingly uncertain. Left-hander Keegan Akin, closer Ryan Helsley, and right-hander Colin Selby are all dealing with injuries that could impact their futures with the team. As the Orioles struggle to find consistency, the question of whether they will make any significant moves at the trade deadline looms large.
Akin, who is in his final year of arbitration, has been struggling with a groin strain and an elbow issue. His performance has taken a significant step back from his previous two seasons, and with a 5.68 ERA and a diminished strikeout rate, it's unlikely he'll be a trade candidate even if the Orioles decide to sell at the deadline. The 31-year-old southpaw's underperformance and injury concerns could be a red flag for potential trade partners.
Helsley, on the other hand, is sidelined by an elbow issue for the second time this year. His two-year, $28MM free agent contract hasn't gotten out to a great start, with injuries limiting him to just 15 1/3 innings of nine-run ball. Despite a 31% strikeout rate, Helsley has also walked nine batters and thrown three wild pitches. With a $14MM player option for next season, it's trending towards him locking in that salary, but a quick return and an excellent finish to the season could change that.
Selby, who has been on the 60-day injured list all season, is in his second full season with the Orioles after being acquired from Kansas City in a July 2024 DFA trade. His shoulder issues are still ongoing, and it's unlikely he'll be back anytime soon. The Orioles won't have an official timetable until his reexamination with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, but it doesn't seem to bode well for his chance of making an impact this year.
The Orioles' injury woes extend beyond these three relievers, with Tyler Wells, Yennier Cano, and Rico Garcia all stepping up in Helsley's absence. Any of the three could be plausible trade candidates if the Orioles don't right the ship, but with all three in their 30s, the team's trade market is looking increasingly uncertain. The Orioles were in a similar spot last year with Bryan Baker, and they were willing to trade him to the division rival Rays for a competitive balance draft choice.
In non-playing news, the Orioles have hired former big leaguer Ross Detwiler as a roving pitching instructor in the upper minors. Detwiler replaces Thomas Eshelman, who accepted the pitching coach job at TCU over the weekend. The 40-year-old Detwiler pitched parts of 14 seasons in the big leagues between 2007-22, but the Orioles were not among the 10 teams for which he suited up at the MLB level. The bulk of his career was spent with the Nationals, where he pitched to a 4.56 ERA across 752 innings.
As the Orioles continue to navigate their injury woes and trade market uncertainty, the question remains: can they right the ship and make a push for the playoffs? With a number of key players on the injury list and the trade deadline looming, the Orioles' future looks uncertain. Only time will tell if they can turn things around and make a run at the postseason.
