The Baltimore Orioles began the season with high hopes of making another strong playoff run and believed they had a solid shot at going further this time. However, after losing key players Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander in free agency and failing to make impactful additions, the team has plummeted to a 16-32 record and now sits at the bottom of the AL East. In response, the organization fired manager Brandon Hyde in an attempt to spark a turnaround, but the struggles have continued, with the team dropping four of its last five games.As the trade deadline approaches, the Orioles are likely to shift focus toward rebuilding, which may involve trading away valuable assets. Zachary Howell of ClutchPoints speculated that this could include moving one of the few standouts on the roster—Japanese rookie Tomoyuki Sugano. “If executive Mike Elias doesn’t see significant improvement soon, he might initiate a full-scale sell-off,” Howell noted, naming Sugano as a prime trade candidate. “Sugano is a notable contributor, but at 35, he’s not a long-term solution for the franchise.”
Baltimore signed Sugano to a one-year, $13 million contract after a distinguished career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He’s performed well in MLB, posting a 3.07 ERA over his first 10 starts. Still, with his age and upcoming free agency, the Orioles might benefit more from trading him for future assets. With young talents like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday leading the way, moving a veteran like Sugano could help position the team for success in 2026 and beyond.