The Orioles have entered the chat.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, Baltimore is “focused on acquiring an impact starting pitcher” prior to this year’s trade deadline. Bowden goes on to say the Orioles have been linked to all the best names, specifically name-dropping Lucas Giolito, Marcus Stroman, and Jack Flaherty.
Given historical trends, it’s likely that the best prospect the White Sox would receive in any Giolito trade would be at the back end of any top-100 prospect list. Luckily for the White Sox, the Orioles farm system is still loaded with talent and potential targets.
Among the most realistic Top 100 players available via trade would be outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 36), infielder Joey Ortiz (No. 62), utilityman Connor Norby (No. 65), third baseman Coby Mayo (No. 74), and catcher Samuel Basallo (No. 95). Remember, at the end of the day, teams are only trading for eight starts so unless the Sox package him with someone else, the best possible piece in a return will likely fall towards the end of this list.
From Baltimore’s standpoint, Bowden wrote in a separate article that he doesn’t believe the Orioles should even consider shipping off any of their top 10 prospects.
“If I’m the Orioles, I’m not trading any of my top prospects for a rental, period. This team is built to be successful for the next three years in what has been the toughest division in all of sports and I’m not mortgaging that future for a single season, especially at the beginning of my contention window.”
“My trade bait for the type of pitching targets I’ve identified (Giolito and Lance Lynn included) would start with the prospects in the 11-20 range of their system, like left-hander Cade Povich and third baseman Max Wagner. The Orioles are loaded with third-base prospects so Wagner could be expendable in this type of move. In terms of the infield logjam, I’d embrace it, not look to eliminate it.”
The White Sox do have leverage here with this move, as they can hold out until August 1st to receive the best offer they possibly can in a market with few starting pitchers. Netting back a top-100 prospect for Giolito would help the organization turn things back around and kickstart a retool. It’s just a matter of finding the right team who’s willing to part ways with some of their young talent.
On the season, Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.76 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in 121.0 innings. The 28-year-old has firmly put his brutal 2022 behind him as an outlier and has been the team’s most consistent starting pitcher this season.
As we receive more information, we will provide further information. Follow us here and on social media @SoxOn35th!
Featured Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
8 starts, PLUS the playoffs. And those are the starts that really matter!
To return to playoffs our White Sox could quickly move up in the standings were they to reel off 59 straight wins.
Small matter, but he turned 29 on July 14th.