Baltimore Orioles Trade Deadline: 3 trades that could bolster their rotation

Baltimore Orioles trade rumors are relatively quiet with the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline date of July 31 is just a few days away.

The Baltimore Orioles sit at 48-54 in the MLB standings with one final series remaining before the MLB Trade Deadline. It is safe to say that a large majority of the fan base would like for the franchise to trade away players in return for prospects.

This is easier said then done. The mystery of whether the team is buying or selling continues to grow with mixed responses from the front office. Names such as Seth Smith, Welington Castillo, and Hyun-Soo Kim have been rumored as potential trades candidates.

Additionally, top end relievers like Zach Britton and Brad Brach have been the most attractive for teams wanting to bolster their bullpen.

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From 2012-2016, the Orioles have experienced winning baseball and have rejuvenated the spirit in the Baltimore area. In that same time frame, the team has been buyers.

Starting pitching has always been an issue towards the deadline and in 3 of those 5 years (2012, 2013, and 2016) the organization has acquired starting pitchers such as Joe Saunders, Scott Feldman, and Wade Miley. This year, the main source of struggle for the ball club has been starting pitching and the inability for starters to go deep into games.

The Orioles just made their first splash before the deadline by acquiring Jeremy Hellickson. He owns a 4.73 ERA for the season and a 1.25 WHIP which is an improvement in comparison to the current rotation.

If the Orioles do in fact become buyers, who are some of the options? What would it take to pull off the deal? Here are a few candidates that fit the Orioles needs.

Lance Lynn, RHP

The 30-year-old right hander Lance Lynn has been a true staple of stability in the St. Louis Cardinals rotation. In 171 appearances including 149 starts, he has a career ERA of 3.35. This year he sports a 3.21 ERA and 1.10 WHIP  but in his last 5 starts in July, he owns a 1.17 ERA.

Lynn is heavy fastball pitcher that throws it close to 78 percent of the time and tops out at 95 mph according to FanGraphs. He mixes in a working slider and curve ball but favors his slider as his second best offering.

It is incredible to consider how a pitcher like himself has not received an extension yet after his brilliant 2014 and 2015 campaign. This is due to the fact that Lynn was out for 2016 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

Lynn was able to recover and does not seem to have lost a step.  He would be a tremendous help to the rotation. The red flag is that he is under control only for this year and will hit free agency in 2018. Although he would be a rental, his value and track record would demand the Baltimore Orioles a Top 10 prospect.