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This Is The Ace Baltimore Has Been Waiting For

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 10:33 AM ET

Highlights:

• Team-control through 2029 makes Hunter Greene the rare ace who is actually gettable
• Baltimore’s need is October swing-and-miss stuff
• Realistic Orioles names include Coby Mayo, Colton Cowser, Ike Irish, and Cade Povich

The Baltimore Orioles need to produce a strong 2026 season after this year's bust. Maybe they can take inspiration from their division rival Toronto Blue Jays, who went from worst in the American League East to heading into the World Series this week.

If they are going to get there and make good on he promise of their young talent, they need to get pitching. Former MLB GM and current MLB analyst Jim Bowden's column of the stars likely to be traded this winter in The Athletic on Thursday had some ideas for Baltimore GM Mike Elias.

Obviously, Elias has to make a huge decision about who will manage the 2026 Orioles first, but building a rotation is 1A on his offseason to-do list.

The competition for Tarik Skubal is going to be intense, but Hunter Greene is an interesting idea. The Orioles can make a credible offer without emptying the farm. Greene could give them postseason strikeouts with years of control, while living with some volatility without emptying out the farm system.

That is the kind of move that turns a very good team into a World Series favorite.

Why Greene Is The Right Bet

Greene brings the thing that plays anywhere in October: elite swing-and-miss stuff.

His four-seam fastball is elite, the slider buries righties, and the splitter has given him a clean lefty killer. The risks are real with Green. His workload history is worrisome, and hitters can make hard, loud contact when he misses, but Camden Yard and the defense behind could help limit the damage.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene is among the players that The Athletic columnist Jim Bowden suggests will be traded. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Why Baltimore Fits The Profile

The Orioles can score, what they need are some elite arms. They need at least one pitcher who will be a Game 1 arm who also changes Game 4 in October.

Greene’s control through 2029 adds to his value. Pair him with Kyle Bradish and a healthy Grayson Rodriguez and you get a solid rotation you can use in the postseason.

The Price Starts With Real Names

If the Cincinnati Reds are truly ready to listen as Bowden suggests, the conversation will be uncomfortable for the Orioles and their fans who have been sold on the idea of future stars.

And it should be.

Baltimore can deal from big-league talent and impact talent later, because they have both. They have probably been in development mode too long.

• Adley Rutschman does not seem untouchable in this framework. Samuel Basallo’s long-term deal changed the depth chart at catcher and first. It would still take a blockbuster to even consider moving Rutschman, but the club is no longer one injury from a crater at the position. If the Orioles decide to trade from strength to acquire an ace with control, this is one of the few times it is even a rational discussion.

• Coby Mayo is a headliner-level corner bat who is already impacting the big-league lineup. Power, control years, and a path to everyday at-bats make him a centerpiece in any call.

• Colton Cowser brings athleticism, approach, and years of control in the outfield. Day-one lineup fit for a retooling Reds club, upside still on the table.

• Ike Irish gives the Orioles depth at catcher. If Basallo is part of the long-term spine, Irish becomes a logical trade chip with real bat potential.

• Cade Povich offers near-term rotation value with options. He is exactly the sort of young, controllable starter who rounds out a multi-player return.

Other names that make sense in conversation, depending on shape and timing: Enrique Bradfield Jr. for premium center-field defense and speed; Dylan Beavers for near-ready corner-outfield impact; Chayce McDermott if a club prefers a power arm in shorter stints.

What It Means

If the Orioles choose to play at the top of the market, they have the chips to force the issue.

Greene is the kind of bet that makes sense for them. He's not an innings eater, but that elite stuff pays off in October, and the Orioles' roster can absorb the cost because the pipeline has done its job. Baltimore does not need to move Adley Rutschman to win a bidding war—but for the first time, he sits in the “possible if it brings back the right ace” column. That alone tells you how serious this winter could get.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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