The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the more active teams so far in the offseason. They've acquired Taylor Ward and Andrew Kittredge, along with being linked to a lot of the top free agents this winter.
With their interest in some of the best players in free agency or on the trade market, their own trade candidates have also garnered some interest. Adley Rutschman has been floated in trade talks before, but for the Orioles, he's not the most likely player to be dealt.
MLB.com writer Mark Feinsand tabbed a different Orioles slugger as the team's best trade candidate this offseason. But, for Ryan Mountcastle, his lackluster 2025 campaign will make any potential trade a tough sell this offseason.
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle tabbed top trade candidate despite tough sell
"... With Cody Mayo and Samuel Basallo set to assume most of the at-bats at first base, the 28-year-old appears to be expendable," Feinsand writes, "The one hitch? Mountcastle is coming off the worst season of his career..."
Baltimore saw Mountcastle put up the worst season of his MLB career, hitting just seven home runs and finishing with a.652 OPS in 89 games for the Orioles in 2025.
Mountcastle is in the final year of club control, making him an obvious trade candidate this offseason. But, adding on Mayo and Basallo assuming the first-base at-bats in Baltimore, and Mountcastle's trade odds surge.
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But, following an 83 OPS+ season in his age-28 season, the Orioles aren't likely to find many suitors for the veteran first baseman.
In 89 games, he accounted for just 0.1 bWAR, hitting just.250 with a poor.367 slugging percentage. This past season was his worst in the Majors, which is a huge dent in his trade value.
A 28-year-old first baseman who is coming off his worst offensive season is not an appealing trade target. While he's the Orioles' top trade candidate this offseason, Baltimore might not have many teams, if any at all, interested in Mountcastle.
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