MLB Rumors: Nolan Arenado trade condition, Padres open for business, AL East trade tactics

MLB Rumors: Rays, Orioles taking contrasting approaches to trade deadline

The two teams atop the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles, have very different approaches heading into the trade deadline. It’s a bit like comparing the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, for a football reference.

The Rays/Rams are in win-now mode. Tampa Bay holds a 61-41 record and appear to have the “urgency” and desire to make big money moves for a championship this season.

Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Rays realize “this is a talented team capable of winning their first World Series in franchise history.” And as such, they’re going to act accordingly at the trade deadline.

By contrast, the divisional team with a slightly higher winning percentage than the Rays, the Orioles, aren’t going all-in this season. As one of the smaller-market teams, the Orioles understand that their smooth-sailing 2023 campaign is the culmination of years and years of rebuilding and prudent decision-making from general manager Mike Elias. Nightengale points out that Elias pushed for a culture of sustainable success during his time with the Astros, and he’s doing the same thing now in Baltimore.

Elias is not going to suddenly “reverse course and trade prized prospects for rentals.” Baltimore hopes to stay competitive and keep nipping at the heels of perennial AL heavyweights for several more years, maybe even a decade. Winning it all isn’t necessarily the game plan for the Orioles; building a successful franchise is.