Orioles may have to consider the unthinkable to acquire American League Cy Young favorite

The Baltimore Orioles are a half-loss away from tying the American League’s best record (58-38). They’re also one game away from a wild card berth. It’s certainly a strange situation for the club to find itself in.

Baltimore has the fourth-youngest batting corps in the league. Despite their youth, the Orioles are already one of the best teams in the major leagues, indicating that they have as bright a future as any team.

Additionally, the Orioles still have 20-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 player in the MLB Pipeline rankings, in their system. The generational prospect struggled mightily in his brief major league stint this year, prompting speculation that he could be expendable.

The recent reports surrounding Holliday have raised the biggest red flag yet, though FanSided baseball insider Robert Murray has refuted the buzz.

Regardless, Baltimore has expressed interest in Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. And considering they’re not the only contenders vying for his services, given the lefty’s age, contract status and dominance, it could cost them Holliday.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, the Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers want to work out “packages loaded with top prospects for Skubal.” Ultimately, it will all come down to Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris’ willingness to part ways with the left-hander. However, if Baltimore dangles Holliday in negotiations, things could get interesting.

Verducci said the Orioles have enough to entice Detroit without including Holliday. But Baltimore only has three starters on the books beyond 2024 ($), and Skubal offers the franchise a golden opportunity to bring in a rising pitcher.

Skubal, 27, is in the prime of his career and will be under team control through the 2026 campaign. This season, he is 10-3 with an MLB-best 2.41 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched. If the Orioles believe he is the missing piece and long-term solution for the top of the rotation, they can win virtually any bidding war for him with Holliday.

Even if Holliday doesn’t necessarily live up to expectations, acquiring an All-Star who fills a huge need for him isn’t the worst-case scenario. Still, the Tigers have to commit to moving Skubal first for that to even become remotely feasible.