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The Orioles that played in Texas over the weekend look more like the Orioles we saw for most of this season and not the Orioles who went 1-5 on their homestand heading into the All-Star break.

Perhaps whatever ailed the team for several days of lackluster baseball is gone forever and more solid play and wins are ahead of us.

What is directly ahead of us – besides the rest of this road trip – is the July 30 trading deadline. And news in recent days that the Orioles have interest in Detroit ace lefty Tarik Skubal.

What we don’t know is if the Tigers would move him under any circumstances or only if they get blown away by a deal.

The Orioles, with their fertile farm, could probably blow away any team with an offer – if they choose to make such a blockbuster deal.

Skubal has gone from ninth-round draft pick in 2018 to All-Star in 2024. This year over 19 starts he is 10-3 with a 2.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League to only the O’s Corbin Burnes.

Yes, it is exciting to think about the top two AL ERAs heading up this rotation. Skubal is the October difference-maker that interests any team. But again, what is the price you have to pay?

The guy is not only just 27, but he has two more years of control after this year, through the 2026 season. That would be huge for the Orioles.

Skubal is first in the AL in opponent OPS (.552), second in the AL in WHIP (0.879), fourth in K per 9 IP (10.9) and eighth in groundball percentage (47.4).

Great combo, lot of whiffs and groundballs and he throws 96.7 mph. Some feel Detroit would be crazy to move him, and they may well be right.

If you are dreaming the O’s could get him, they would have pitchers in the AL ranked fourth (Skubal), fifth (Grayson Rodriguez) and eighth (Burnes) in swing and miss percentage.

From Sports Illustrated: “Sources from the Dodgers and Orioles confirmed they are interested in putting together packages loaded with top prospects for Skubal. There is no indication yet whether Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris will move Skubal, though both Los Angeles and Baltimore have the rich prospect capital to make such a trade discussion interesting.”

And via USA Today: “The Detroit Tigers are engaged in talks with the Baltimore Orioles and Dodgers for Skubal.

“It’s a longshot that Skubal will be traded, but the Tigers are listening, and have told teams they will move him only if they are overwhelmed by an offer.”

Sometimes these rumblings and rumors just lead to disappointment for fans but a report mentioning Skubal gets our attention.

Remember, the Tigers hold the cards here. They can listen to all offers and accept none. Or the O’s could make a whopper of an offer and someone could top it. Or none of this could happen.

The trade deadline countdown is on.