Orioles’ Elias on trade deadline: ‘Not a strong bias’ on buying or selling; Cano signs 2-year extension; Injury update

BALTIMORE—The trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m., and the Orioles have an important three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies before then.

“We are watching game-by-game,” Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said on Friday. “This has turned out to be kind of razor-wire situation going into this deadline. We’re 2 ½ out. We’re three games below .500. I think both of those are really disappointing, particularly with where we hoped to be with the talent level on the team … We should have a better record than this.

“I think we’ve had a lot of misfortune, but there’s also a lot of stuff where all of us have underperformed what we should be doing, but we still have a shot, a good shot in the American League, and we’re keeping an eye on that. I think as we move into this deadline, we’re going to be watching the results of tonight’s game and tomorrow’s game, but it’s pretty important at this point that we have an idea of what we’re doing.”

The Orioles trail Cleveland by 2 ½ games for the final wild-card spot. Houston and Minnesota are a game behind the Guardians.

“I look at where we are in the standings, and we do have a shot,” Elias said. “We do care about making the playoffs in 2026, but we put ourselves a little bit behind the 8-ball. We’ve got some ground to make up. We’re not going to have a strong bias towards being in one of those buckets, buyer or seller.

“I think we put ourselves in  a position where we can’t have a bias in either direction, so we are out in the market, on the phones, finding out what’s going on out there and looking at things on a case-by-case basis, looking for trades that we like, looking for exchanges of talent that we think makes sense for the organization.

“Maybe those are short-term moves, where we bring players in. They’re going to help us right now or next year. Maybe those are longer-term moves, where we’re sending out guys that are on this team right now and bringing in players for the future of this organization. I think we’ve put ourselves in a position where we’re not declaring ourselves being in one bunker or the other.

“We are going to be assessing moves as the market dictates. It makes for a complicated trade deadline and an unpredictable one, and we’re preparing for everything.”

Extension for Cano

The Orioles signed reliever Yennier Cano to a two-year extension for 2027 and 2028 with an option for 2029.

According to MLB.com, Cano will receive $7.5 million for 2027 and 2028. His option for 2029 is $10 million.

Cano is 2-2 with a 2.21 ERA and a save in 48 games this season.

Elias on Rutschman

Elias reiterated his admiration for catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation. There’s obviously significant interest in him from other clubs.

“We love him. You feel it when he’s gone,” Elias said. “Absolutely love Adley and having him as long as we can, but we put ourselves in a position where we’ve got to be pretty open-minded here as we go into these talks. Adley is one of the best things that we have going for us.”

Injury update

Elias said both Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are making progress. “Basallo is starting to throw. He’s going to hit in the next couple of days. We’re going to get him back ASAP and hopefully that’s really soon. Adley’s playing catch. He’s going to start hitting tomorrow. It’s possible Adley’s in rehab games next week.

“Both of those guys are moving along quite well. We’re hoping to have them back soon.”

Elias said the inflammation in the tendon in Rutschman’s left wrist is gone.

Basallo’s shoulder was “barking,” Elias said.

“He got inflammation in his shoulder, and we got him an injection, and hopefully cool that down, and now throwing and hitting will be the next step. With both of them, it was apparently just inflamed, soft tissue and just a matter of time to get it back.”

Félix Bautista, who had rotator cuff and labrum surgery, could still help the bullpen this season, Elias said. He’s throwing live batting practices in Sarasota.

“From all that I’m hearing, he’s looking really good,” Elias said. “Fingers crossed and kudos to him. He’s not back yet, but it’s going really, really well.”

First baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle suffered a setback in his rehab from a fractured left foot at Triple-A Norfolk. Mountcastle suffered a “pretty significant” oblique strain and may not play again in 2026.

“We can’t expect him back any time soon,” Elias said. “We’ll get him back as soon as we’re able to. Hopefully that’s in 2026.”

Closer Ryan Helsley, who’s on the 60-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, is doing well, Elias said.

“Helsley’s playing catch, so we’ll just keep increasing that and see where it goes,” he said. “We’ve got to see where his throwing progression takes us.”

Starter Chris Bassitt, who’s on the 60-day injured list after back surgery, threw well for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday night. Elias said he’ll get another rehab outing or two.

“We’re expecting to have him back pretty soon,” Elias said.

The Orioles are planning for him to return to the rotation.

Utility player Blaze Alexander, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left hand, is still healing. Elias won’t rule out an August return.

“It’s certainly within the realm of possibility that he’s back at the very outset of September,” Elias said.

Right-handed pitcher Colin Selby had his right rotator cuff and labrum repaired on Tuesday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Selby will miss the season and a significant part of next season.

Rogers arrives

Catcher Jake Rogers, whom Elias originally drafted in Houston in 2016, arrived but Yohel Pozo is in Friday night’s lineup.

“Veteran catcher, really well-known for running a pitching staff, and we thought he’d be an upgrade in the short term,” Elias said. “So we brought him in, and he’s going to be catching a lot here in the next few days, and help hold down the fort until one or both of those guys is back. Even when they are back, we’ve run a three-catcher roster quite a bit here, and we also don’t know what the trade deadline’s going to bring.”

Orioles-Phillies lineups

Orioles

Dylan Beavers-LF

Pete Alonso-1B

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Taylor Ward-DH

Leody Taveras-RF

Jackson Holliday-2B

Coby Mayo-3B

Colton Cowser-CF

Yohel Pozo-C

Brandon Young-RHP

Phillies

Trea Turner-SS

Kyle Schwarber-DH

Bryce Harper-1B

Alec Bohm-3B

Brandon Marsh-LF

J.J. Realmuto-C

Bryson Stott-2B

Gabriel Rincones Jr.-RF

Justin Crawford-CF

Andrew Painter-RHP

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