Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where it’s trade deadline day

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

The day has finally arrived. After weeks of frantic activity and crazy rumors and wild speculation, it’s the final day of the non-waiver trade season. If the Orioles are going to make any more earth-shattering deals, they’ll need to do it by 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Oh, sure, sometimes there are still trades in August, but usually those are lower profile deals that involve players who can easily clear waivers — like the Danny Valencias and Andrew Cashners of the world — and won’t warrant much of a return. For the big names, though, today is the day that decides their fate. If the Orioles don’t trade Jonathan Schoop or Kevin Gausman or Mychal Givens today, it’s safe to say those guys will be sticking around at least until the offseason.

What’s going to happen? My money is on the Orioles making no further trades today. If that’s the case, I can live with it. They’ve already dealt their two most valuable pending free agents, the ones they absolutely had to trade — Manny Machado and Zach Britton. But maybe they’ll surprise us with another blockbuster.

In the meantime, the O’s are back in action tonight in the Bronx, and they’re actually riding a hot streak. The Birds have three wins in a row, only the second time this season they’ve accomplished that feat, and they’ve scored 11 or more runs in three straight games. Can they continue their groove?

Links

Dealing Gausman and/or Bundy now feels like selling low, unless the buyer is still seeing future aces – The Athletic
Dan Connolly says the Orioles probably won’t be dealing Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy -- not just because they’re under contract for a while longer, but also because they haven’t really been good enough to warrant a big return.

Will O’s renewed interest in international market lead them to Victor Victor Mesa? - Steve Melewski
Baseball America’s Ben Badler speaks glowingly of Orioles target Victor Victor Mesa, the Cuban star the O’s are targeting. Badler says Mesa’s speed and arm are his two best attributes. I’d add a third: his name. Victor Victor! I love it.

More thoughts on the trade deadline and the rebuild - School of Roch
Roch Kubatko writes about the “uncomfortable situation” that’s brewing between Adam Jones, who doesn’t want to leave the Orioles, and the front office, which doesn’t have him in their future plans.

A season of hope for Dylan Bundy has not gone the way anyone expected – The Athletic
Why has Dylan Bundy been so...meh? Matt Kremnitzer offers his analysis.

A look at the Orioles’ most significant trades with each franchise, Part 1: National League - BaltimoreBaseball.com
It’s trade deadline season, so it’s only appropriate to review how the Orioles have fared in their deals with every other MLB team. Part 1 covers the NL.

Jonathan Schoop, Christian Yelich POW winners (MLB.com)
The POW in that headline means Player of the Week, not prisoner of war. That’s an important distinction! Anyway, congratulations to Schoop.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have two living Orioles birthday buddies: 1999 catcher Mike Figga (48) and 1977-78 lefty Earl Stephenson (71). It’s also the birthday of three deceased former Orioles: manager Billy Hitchcock, who helmed the club from ‘62-’63; eight-game 1959-60 lefty Rip Coleman; and 1954-57 outfielder Joe Durham, the first African-American position player in O’s history.

I often found myself sitting next to Durham, a Maryland native, in the Camden Yards press box over the years. I’d get him a hot dog from the press lounge and he’d regale me with commentary on the game and stories about the ‘50s-era Orioles. It was a good time. Sadly, he passed away two years ago at age 84.

As the final day of the non-waiver trade deadline, July 31 has been an active day in Orioles history. The O’s, in fact, have made a trade on July 31 in each of the last five years, acquiring Tim Beckham (2017), Wade Miley (2016), Gerardo Parra (2015), Andrew Miller (2014), and Bud Norris (2013).

And some of the players they’ve traded away on July 31: Zach Davies (2015), Tommy Hunter (2015), Eduardo Rodriguez (2014), Josh Hader (2013), Sidney Ponson (2003), B.J. Surhoff (2000), and Will Clark (2000).

The Orioles and Royals were both idle Monday night, so the race remains the same as yesterday, with the Orioles just half a game more awful than Kansas City. Will either of these teams make any last-minute, sell-off trades today?