Despite trade talk, Orioles try to focus on field

CLEVELAND—On Sunday, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said on MLB Network Radio that the team would be focused on possible trades involving players near the end of their contract.

“When we’re at this point in the standings and [10] days away from the trade deadline, we’ve got to be realistic about our situation,” Elias said. “The conversations I’m having right now are more oriented toward what’s out there for some of our available major league players. We’re not blowing up the team. We think we’re going to be very good again in 2026 and have that intention. We’re not interested in changing the foundation of the team, but to the degree that we have players that interest other clubs, who are coming towards the end of their contracts, we’ve got to listen to that. That’s what we’re spending our time on now.”

Interim manager Tony Mansolino tries to separate his job from those talks.

“Mike and the organization have a responsibility to create sustainable success for the Baltimore Orioles for years to come,” Mansolino said Monday. “That’s a big responsibility that he has, and he’s going to have to manage, how he is going to manage it, which will be the right way.

“On my end and my staff’s end, our mindset is to win with whoever is here. Regardless if a player gets traded or not, certain players get traded, our goal every day is to win the game. We’re fortunate [to have] a core group of players that are going to be here. I think we all know who those guys are. Those guys are very highly unlikely to go anywhere.”

The trade deadline is July 31^st.

“However this trade deadline ends, we’re going to really like the players that we have and feel strongly that we can win with those players and those players are going to know that we feel that way. We’re going to put our best foot forward to win every game.”

Dominguez, Kittredge as trade chips: Two Oriole relievers are among those who are rumored in trade talks. Seranthony Domínguez, who came to the Orioles from Philadelphia just ahead of last year’s trade deadline, knows there’s talk.

“It’s kind of interesting, but at the end of the day, I try to stay one step at a time,” Domínguez said. “I’m here today. I’m happy to be here, happy with the opportunity to be here. I’m going to try to do everything I can to try to help the team win. No matter what happens tomorrow, I’m here today.”

Domínguez said being traded at the deadline is difficult.

“You’ve got to move. If you bring your family with you, it’s hard to move in the middle of the season,” he said. “All the team is here. We’ve got a really good relationship with every single one. I believe in this team. I know we started the wrong way. We struggled. A lot of good talent here. All these guys play hard to win the game.”:

Kittredge has never been traded during the season. Unlike Domínguez, who’ll be a free agent at the end of the season, Kittredge has a $9 million option for next season, which could complicate matters.

“I’m here now. I like it here. My job is to get outs when I get asked to pitch,” he said. “If I focus on anything like that, I’m not going to be any good on the mound. I try to tune it out. If it happens, it happens. I’m aware of it, but it’s something I trying not to think about, not to focus on, not to think about.

“I like this team. This team is fun. It’s got a lot of talent. Unfortunately, that hole we dug at the beginning of the season is pretty big. It’s a tough road ahead. Even if we weren’t sellers necessarily, it would be tough to put ourselves in position to make the playoffs, but that’s what we’re here to do.”

Kittredge has been in the postseason twice, in 2021 and 2023 with Tampa Bay.

“That’s always a goal,” he said. “Any team you’re on, that’s the goal. I want to do it with this team. It’s an uphill battle. If they do end up selling, I could be a piece that gets moved. I’d like to make the playoffs here. I know that might seem farfetched at this point, but that’s my goal for now.”

Notes: Starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who was shut down last week because of elbow soreness, has gotten imaging on his right elbow … Catcher Maverick Handley, who’s on the 7-day concussion injured list, is seeing a specialist for his wrist. Handley will soon be out of concussion protocol. .… The Orioles announced the signing of fourth-round pick shortstop Colin Yeaman. The team has signed 13 of its 24 draft picks. High school outfielder Slater de Brun, the 37^th overall pick in competitive balance round A, is the only pick among the first 10 rounds who is unsigned. … High-A Aberdeen outfielder Vance Honeycutt, last year’s No. 1 draft choice, is on the 7-day injured list with a sprained left ankle.

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