Something is not clicking in the home of the Orioles. A team built on power, speed, and promise suddenly identifies itself stuck in neutral, with each loss weighing heavier than the last. The excitement that once surrounded their young core is now buried under enhanced frustration and questions about what has gone wrong. And now, as trade buzz begins to swirl, the team is being linked to a rising star from the NL—one that could anchor the Orioles’ future and the rest of their season.

Sitting at the bottom of their division with a 50 percent win-loss ratio, the Baltimore Orioles have been urged to consider a vital pivot: Targeting the Phillies’ 23-year-old right-hander Mick Abel.

The Orioles’ management has long craved young and controllable starting pitching, and Abel fits the bill. A former first-round pick in 2020, the star has bounced back powerfully after a tough 2024 and posted a 2.21 ERA with 17 strikeouts and just four walks in four MLB starts. The more encouraging part is Mick Abel’s 2.21 ERA across 10 Triple-A outings! 

The rookie also picked up the second win of his career in Monday’s 5-2 win over the Marlins. He pitched five innings, enabling one run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. The star has turned in encouraging outcomes in his first four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.03 WHIP and a 7.52 K/9 rate in 20 1/3 IP. While Mick Abel’s strikeout data has not yet reached the ceiling he showed in the minors, fantasy managers can not complain about his ERA and WHIP so far.

Abel’s upcoming matchup will be tough against the Mets. While the star has looked good overall, he had a tough time in his last faceoff against the Cubs. Still, there are multiple reasons why the Orioles can target him.

However, the effective deal comes at a vital price. As per Jin Bowden, the Orioles would be parting ways with elite closer Félix Bautista and defensive star Cedric Mullins in a swap. Bautista, coming off Tommy John surgery, has racked up 14 saves with a 3.04 ERA in under 24 innings this season and highlighted that he is still the most feared ninth-inning star of the game. And Mullins, a pending free agent, has pop and speed, with 11 homers and eight stolen bases so far.

While targeting Abel highlights that the Orioles intend to enhance their future rotation, the Phillies themselves are undergoing transformations behind the scenes—some of which could indirectly affect how willing the team is to negotiate a high-profile trade.

Phillies’ internal shakeups could tip trade talks into overdrive

The Phillies are riding a five-game winning streak and keeping close pace with the division-leading Mets. However, that momentum has not shielded the team’s underperforming stars from scrutiny.

Already, the team has designated reliever Carlos Hernandez for assignment after his 5.26 ERA, highlighting that they are not afraid to cut ties to stay competitive. Now, the attention is transforming to the 26-year-old catcher Rafael Marchán, who is hitting just .174/.296/.283. And if FanSided’s Edward Eng’s current prediction comes true, he might not even survive this month. On Sunday, Eng shared, “As much as the Phillies should give some leeway to a developing young catcher in the majors in Marchán, the competition has been so intense in the National League playoff race thus far that Philadelphia probably can’t afford waiting any longer.”

That sense of urgency could play a vital role in how management’s decisions unfold before the deadline. With Marchán’s offensive issues dragging down depth behind the plate and Realmuto carrying the load, the team could feel an enhanced need to reconfigure its roster. This could affect how the team analyzes trading away a prized Mick Abel.

If the Phillies think that a World Series push relies on adding elite bullpen and outfield reinforcements quickly, they could be more willing to sacrifice long-term upside.

Such a tense situation establishes an intriguing angle for the Orioles. As the Phillies weigh internal shakeups and outer expectations, the Orioles’ trade proposal could gain traction quicker than assumed.