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MLB Rumors: Orioles play it conservative in terms of potential Shohei Ohtani trade

When the Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani began to see his name thrown around in trade rumors, there weren’t very many teams with a realistic chance of acquiring him. Ohtani is in the midst of one of, if not the best, seasons in MLB history. That kind of trade would require a ridiculous prospect return.

One of the teams with the potential to trade for the two-way sensation was the Baltimore Orioles, who find themselves sitting in first in the AL East. Their rebuild has gotten off to a much better and faster start than anybody could have expected. But that’s exactly what it is. A rebuild. So, it should come as no surprise that Baltimore won’t empty the tank of their farm system for a rental, no matter how special he is.

“We can’t set the minor league system on fire just because we’re in first place,” The Orioles general manager Mike Elias stated when asked about dealing prospects at the deadline.

Acquiring Ohtani would have done just that: set the Orioles’ farm system on fire. But this statement doesn’t take them out of the buyers’ market. They are still very active among trade discussions and look to add a few players at the deadline. Elias will just look to hold onto one of the best farm systems in the MLB, while still making win-now moves.