The Orioles continue to explore the trade market for a pair of corner infielders

Injuries have given the Baltimore Orioles the opportunity to get corner infielder Coby Mayo and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle into the lineup. Instead, neither will be on the Opening Day roster.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports this that the Orioles have continued to look to trade Mayo and Mountcastle despite second baseman Jackson Holliday undergoing surgery for a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Holliday is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season.

Swapping both players presents a series of challenges. Mountcastle was surprisingly retained by the Orioles after an injury-plagued 2025 season and will make just under $6.8 million for 2026 with a $7.5 million team option for 2027. He posted a disappointing .250/.286/.367 batting line over 357 plate appearances, hitting seven home runs and 18 doubles. However, Mountcastle does have a reputation as a solid Major League player, with a batting line of .265/.316/.450 in his 2,312 plate appearances between 2020 and 2024.

The Baltimore Orioles want to acquire Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle

Mayo doesn’t have the same level of major league success. He is a consensus top-100 pick for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and has posted a .201/.285/.349 batting line with 11 home runs and 12 doubles in 340 career plate appearances. He has struggled defensively, costing the Orioles four runs at third in just 87 innings in the hot corner.

Both players will be blocked in Baltimore if the Orioles are fully healthy. Catcher Samuel Basallo is expected to see time in the designated hitter role if he doesn’t backup catcher Adley Rutschman. Pete Alonso is initially entrenched after signing a five-year, $155 million contract, while recently acquired outfielder Taylor Ward will take over left field. Infielder Jordan Westburg, who could move to second due to Holliday’s injury, will be the Orioles’ primary third baseman.

Despite Mayo’s problems and Mountcastle’s track record, Rosenthal noted that Mayo would be more valuable on the trade front. He has six years of team control remaining, including three seasons at the league minimum. Teams with openings at both corners of the field could view Mayo as a candidate for a change of scenery and a potential steal if he can tap into the potential that has made him a top prospect. Likewise, a rebuilding team might want to take a chance on Mountcastle, hoping he can return to form and improve his trade value.