On July 26, the Orioles traded Gregory Soto then lost 6-5 to the Rockies. The gut-wrenching collapse highlights a team in selloff mode and a depleted bullpen.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Saturday at Camden Yards felt like a microcosm of a season at a crossroads. The Orioles front office officially waved the white flag on 2025, trading key reliever Gregory Soto to the Mets and kicking off a trade deadline selloff. Hours later, the team on the field mirrored the front office's pivot, blowing an early four-run lead in a gut-wrenching 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies, a defeat that underscored the very bullpen issues the Soto trade exacerbated.
'That’s a bitter one right there... we just haven’t been able to hang on.' - Interim Manager Tony Mansolino
The day's biggest news broke before the game, as the Orioles sent their primary left-handed reliever, Gregory Soto, to the New York Mets. In return, Baltimore received a pair of minor league right-handers, Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. The move signals a clear selling posture from the Orioles and leaves the big-league bullpen in a precarious position. Rookie Grant Wolfram, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning, is now the lone lefty reliever on the active roster, a stark reality for a team navigating the rest of the season.
For a moment, it looked like pure power would be the story. The Orioles exploded for four solo home runs in the first two innings, with Jordan Westburg (his 11th) and Tyler O’Neill going back-to-back in the first, followed by Coby Mayo and Alex Jackson in the second. But the 4-0 lead evaporated. The Rockies chipped away and then surged ahead with a three-run sixth inning, leaving a crowd of 25,090 stunned. The loss dropped the O's to 45-58, a painful reminder of their inability to close out games.
The bullpen's struggles are compounded by another major loss. Closer Félix Bautista was officially placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to July 21. Losing 'The Mountain' and the top lefty in Soto within days has ripped the heart out of the late innings. While Kade Strowd was recalled from Norfolk to fill a spot, the back-end of the bullpen is now a massive question mark, putting immense pressure on the remaining arms.
Amidst the gloom, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon. Catcher Adley Rutschman is continuing his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk, while first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has already made a splash, homering for the Tides. Their return is imminent and will provide a much-needed boost. The roster churn continued with infielder Jeremiah Jackson getting the call-up and catcher Chadwick Tromp electing free agency. In a fittingly bizarre twist to the day, fans in the lower bowl were ordered to evacuate during the game for an unspecified reason, adding another strange chapter to a chaotic Saturday at the Yard.
As the trade deadline looms, the selloff has officially begun. Expect more moves in the coming days as the front office continues to reshape the roster for the future. While the present is painful, the focus now shifts to the development of young players getting their shot and the imminent return of stars like Rutschman and Mountcastle, who represent the hope that this period of selling is meant to build toward. For Orioles fans, the message is clear: buckle up for a turbulent week.
