MLB Trade Rumors 2019: Top 25 assets

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 14: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 14, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

17. Trey Mancini

The Baltimore Orioles traded away Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Kevin Gausman and Zach Britton last summer, leaving them with very little in the way of useful trade chips to continue their rebuilding efforts this season. Reliever Mychal Givens was viewed as a potential piece, but he has struggled all season and would not fetch much on the trade market. The O’s could probably find a taker for right-hander Andrew Cashner, but the return would be minimal.

That leaves 27-year-old outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini as the best potential trade chip for the Orioles.

Mancini, who finished third in the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year vote, is having the best season of his career. He is hitting .304/.361/.554 with 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 35 RBI through 72 games. Mancini came into the year noticeably slimmer and has been locked in at the plate all season. His approach has drastically improved and he is walking at a rate well above his career average.

The Orioles probably should trade Mancini while his value is at its highest. Trading the team’s best player in the midst of a historically-bad season, however, might be an extremely tough sell for management. Mancini has emerged as the face of this roster, however bad it may be. Mike Elias and the new front office have worked hard to revamp the farm system, but the Orioles are still light years away from being ready to contend.

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