Orioles continuing to explore trade market for pair of corner infielders

Injuries have created an opportunity for the Baltimore Orioles to get corner infielder Coby Mayo and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle into the lineup. Instead, neither may be on the roster come Opening Day.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Orioles have continued to look into trading Mayo and Mountcastle, despite second baseman Jackson Holliday undergoing surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. Holliday is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season.

Trading either player comes with a set of challenges. Mountcastle was surprisingly retained by the Orioles after an injury plagued 2025 season and will earn just under $6.8M for 2026 with a $7.5M team option for 2027. He posted a disappointing .250/.286/.367 batting line over 357 plate appearances, hitting seven homers and 18 doubles. However, Mountcastle does have a track record of being a solid major league option, posting a .265/.316/.450 batting line in his 2,312 plate appearances between 2020 and 2024.

Baltimore Orioles looking to move on Coby Mayo, Ryan Mountcastle

Mayo does not have that same level of major league success. A consensus top-100 prospect ahead of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he has posted a .201/.285/.349 batting line with 11 homers and 12 doubles in 340 career plate appearances. He has struggled defensively, costing the Orioles four runs at third in just 87 innings at the hot corner.

Both players are blocked in Baltimore if the Orioles are completely healthy. Catcher Samuel Basallo is expected to get time in the designated hitter role when he is not backing up catcher Adley Rutschman. Pete Alonso is entrenched at first after signing a five-year, $155M contract while recently acquired outfielder Taylor Ward is slated to take over in left field. Infielder Jordan Westburg, who could move to second due to Holliday's injury, will be the Orioles primary third baseman.

Despite Mayo's struggles and Mountcastle's track record, Rosenthal noted that Mayo would be more valuable on the trade front. He has six years of team control left, including three seasons at the league minimum. Teams with openings at either corner infield spot may regard Mayo as a change of scenery candidate and a potential bargain if he can tap into the potential that made him a top prospect. Likewise, a rebuilding team may want to take a chance on Mountcastle, hoping he can return to form and improve his trade value.