MLB Trade Rumors: AL East Relief Pitcher Expected To Be Dealt Before 2019 Deadline

The first month of the 2019 MLB season has come and gone, and there are already rumors regarding who the worst teams in baseball will be looking to trade. The Baltimore Orioles are expected to be among the sellers before the July 31 deadline, considering they lost 115 games last year and currently own the worst record in the American League.

It’s no surprise that a team with an 11-21 record doesn’t have a ton of players that contenders are expected to covet as the season moves along. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, reliever Mychal Givens is on a short list of names that could bring back a decent return for Baltimore this summer.

“The Orioles are willing to listen on everyone. They are listening on Givens. He is really their only guy making over $1 million that has any trade value” Rosenthal said Thursday morning on MLB Network’s “MLB Central.”

“He’ll be a guy that they ultimately look to move.”

Rosenthal noted that other teams are concerned the Orioles will ask for too much in return for Givens since he’s essentially their only trade asset. Veterans like Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb don’t have much value because their performances haven’t been commensurate with their salaries

It’s not as if Givens has been lights out in the bullpen. In 13.1 innings, he’s got a mediocre 4.05 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The 28-year-old does have 18 strikeouts and a career 3.16 ERA in 236 relief appearances.

Givens is only making $2.15 million this season with two more years of arbitration left before hitting free agency following the 2021 season.