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In 24 hours, the Orioles’ roster could look very different.
The front office is realistic about where Baltimore finds itself in the standings. Despite a great homestand with incredible performances from the likes of Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn, the Orioles would have to leapfrog seven American League teams to make the playoffs.
The reality of the situation wasn’t lost on the fans at Camden Yards, nor the players in the clubhouse, a few of which have already changed jerseys.
Ahead of today’s deadline, the Orioles have already sent Gregory Soto to the Mets and Seranthony Domínguez to the Blue Jays in exchange for some high-upside arms.
In exchange for Soto, the O’s received RHP Wellington Aracena and RHP Cameron Foster from New York. Foster didn’t enter Baltimore’s top 30 according to MLB Pipeline, nor was he a top-30 prospect in the Mets system according to Baseball America. But Aracena is ranked by both outlets.
Aracena, a 20-year-old international prospect, enters the O’s top 30 at No. 20, according to MLB Pipeline. He was Baseball America’s 28th-best prospect in the Mets system.
According to scouting reports, Aracena is seen as a high-upside arm. His 2024 numbers would back that up, as the righty walked over nine batters per nine innings but struck out 12.5. This season, though, that walk rate has dropped significantly to just under five walks per nine.
Pipeline notes that he’s continued to build up velocity, contributing to his 60 grades on his fastball and cutter, and sits 96 to 99. They and Baseball America note that Aracena may become a reliever, but he’s a very high upside one.
The right-hander made his organizational debut with the Delmarva Shorebirds last night, tossing 4 ⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out six.
The highest-ranked arm that the O’s have acquired thus far is RHP Juaron Watts-Brown, the No. 10 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system that becomes the O’s 8th-best prospect, according to Pipeline.
The 23-year-old arm had a short walk to switch organizations, just as Domínguez did, the pitcher he was traded for.
Toronto was, of course, in town facing the Orioles when Domínguez was dealt. Ironically, their Double-A affiliates were also squaring off, and Watts-Brown got the same treatment. How quickly things can change.
Watts-Brown, a former third-round pick out of Oklahoma State, has taken a nice step forward in 2025. After finishing 2024 with a 4.72 ERA, the right-hander has posted a 3.48 in 11 Double-A starts this year. His most recent outing was a gem, allowing just one run in seven innings of work with six strikeouts, three hits and a walk.
Pipeline notes his “excellent” feel for a low-80’s slider, which they grade at a 60 on the 20-80 scale. Baseball America made note of the slider’s spin rates, adding that the pitch generates whiffs at an “elite rate.” With a fastball that only sits in the low-90’s, a good slider/curveball combination could be his go-to.
Aracena and Watts-Brown join a much-improved crop of pitching talent down on the farm. Esteban Mejia, an 18-year-old flamethrower, is a top-100 prospect, according to Baseball America. Michael Forret and Braxton Bragg have showcased great upside, though Bragg will miss significant time with Tommy John surgery. Plus, arms like Keeler Morfe and Trey Gibson are on the rise.
There aren’t top arms knocking on the door at the Triple-A level just yet. But the Orioles are steadily adding pitching talent to the system, and still have a trade deadline to go.
