Who are Orioles’ untouchables? | MAILBAG

Question: The MLB trade deadline is August 3rd. In your view, who should be untouchable on the Orioles’ major league roster aside from Samuel Basallo and why? From: Adam Saft

Answer: Adam, the trade deadline is still a long way away, and my answer, and the Orioles’ may well change in the coming weeks.

I would not trade Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Brandon Young, Kyle Bradish or Shane Baz.

I think Young has shown enough that if I’m the Orioles, I wouldn’t want to trade him. If the Orioles fall out of contention, perhaps I’d change my view.

I think Henderson is too great a talent, Rutschman is too valuable and Holliday has too much promise.

The Orioles signed Baz to a long-term contract earlier this year, and I wouldn’t move him. Like Rutschman, I think Bradish is too valuable to trade.

As for Pete Alonso, he has a clause allowing him to name eight teams that he can’t be traded to.

Question: Any chance that we will use Yennier Cano as an opener. Since he tends to give up runs, it might make sense to start him, so the offense has more time to recover. From: Dorsey Stell

Answer: Dorsey, openers usually throw with the opposite hand of the pitcher that follows him, so the Orioles would only use a right-handed opener ahead of left-handed Trevor Rogers.

Besides matching up with a right-handed lineup, they’d want a right-handed opener available to pitch for up to two innings, something that Cano has rarely done.

I think he’s more valuable as a late-inning specialist against right-handers than as an opener.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.