MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Red Sox AL East Rival Bracing For Fire Sale

If the Boston Red Sox want to upgrade the pitching staff ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline, the club can tap the American League East cellar dwellars.

The Baltimore Orioles (43-52) are in last place in the division, 11 1/2 games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays. They’re also 7 1/2 games back in the AL Wild Card standings.

So the 2025 season, which held great promise for a young and rising Orioles squad, could end with Baltimore general manager Mike Elias holding a fire sale.

“Baltimore Orioles starter Zach Eflin, who has been out with back discomfort since late June, is expected to return to the Orioles rotation after the All-Star break, and will become immediate trade bait,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday.

“The Orioles also are expected to trade Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano barring a dramatic winning streak after the break,” Nightengale added.

Last month, Nightengale reported Morton could be a “valuable trade chip.”

That echoed what The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported last month when he said Morton “is emerging as a legitimate trade candidate.”

“The biggest concern for a team interested in acquiring Morton might be paying the balance of his $15 million salary,” Rosenthal wrote. “At the deadline, he still would be owed nearly $5 million.”

If it’s relief pitching the Red Sox are looking, the Orioles can spell relief there as well, according to SNY’s Andy Martino.

“The O’s are said to be ready or near ready to talk seriously about relievers like Andrew Kittredge … as well as righty Seranthony Dominguez and lefty Gregory Soto,” Martino wrote Thursday. “Rivals do not believe that Baltimore will trade closer Felix Bautista.”

Should Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow continue his quest for a power-hitting first baseman, Baltimore might have one to offer if it goes into complete tear-down mode.

Last month, ESPN listed Boston as a “best fit” for Orioles All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn, who will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 campaign. The Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers also were labeled in the “best fit” category.

The Orioles signaled their intention to wheel and deal last week when they sent reliever Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.