Orioles trade Ramón Urías to Astros on July 31 but suffer a tough loss to the Blue Jays despite homers from O'Hearn & Westburg. Read the full deadline scoop.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Thursday morning brought a jolt to Birdland as the Orioles made a significant move ahead of the trade deadline, sending Gold Glove-winning infielder Ramón Urías to the Houston Astros. The deal, which brings back a promising young arm, signals a clear strategic direction from the front office, even as the team grapples with a gut-wrenching loss on the field.
The move signals Baltimore's willingness to trade players with team control beyond 2025 as the deadline approaches.
It's official: Ramón Urías, a fixture in the Orioles infield since 2020 and the AL Gold Glove winner at third base in 2022, is heading to Houston. In return, the O's acquire 20-year-old right-hander Twine Palmer. While losing a versatile and popular player like Urías stings, the return is intriguing. Palmer has been lights-out at Single-A, posting a 2.13 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. This is a classic Mike Elias move: trading a known big-league commodity with years of team control for a high-upside arm that could be part of the next wave of pitching talent.
The front office news was juxtaposed with a painful on-field result Wednesday night. The Orioles looked poised to sweep the Blue Jays, carrying a lead into the seventh inning. But a five-run implosion, capped by a three-run homer from Nathan Lukes, turned the game on its head. It wasn't for a lack of offense; Ryan O'Hearn and Jordan Westburg both went deep, and Gunnar Henderson continued his torrid hitting with three knocks. A frantic rally in the bottom of the seventh fell just short, leaving the final score at a wild 9-8 and reminding everyone how crucial a shutdown bullpen is in a playoff push.
Beyond the big trade, the roster continues to see movement. Right-hander Brandon Young was optioned back to Triple-A Chesapeake, continuing his role as a depth piece shuttling between the clubs. More encouragingly, Tyler Wells has officially begun a rehab assignment with the Double-A Baysox. Getting a healthy and effective Wells back in the pitching staff would be a massive boost for the season's final stretch, providing the exact kind of reinforcement the team desperately needs.
With the trade deadline clock ticking louder by the minute, the Urías deal feels like the opening act, not the finale. This front office has proven it's not afraid to make bold, future-focused moves, even in the thick of a pennant race. The loss to Toronto was a bitter pill, but it also highlighted the team's biggest need: reliable bullpen arms. All eyes are now on Mike Elias to see what other reinforcements might be on the way before the window closes.
