O'Day on trade talk: "More speculation than I've ever heard before"

ARLINGTON, Texas - As the non-waiver trade deadline approaches at 4 p.m. on Monday, we could soon have a clearer indication of the thinking of Orioles management.

Are they looking to make trades to acquire prospects and build for the future? Are they looking to add to the current team, despite its 48-53 record? Are they looking to do some of both or maybe none of the above?

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day is one of the longest-tenured team members. He's been an Oriole since 2012. He said the trade deadline has a different feel this year with speculation that the club could be sellers. He hasn't seen that before in Baltimore

"I don't think I've been here with the Orioles where the plans were not known," O'Day said in the visiting clubhouse this afternoon at Globe Life Park. "We've always been adders. I can't speak to what the front office's plan is. But there is a lot of speculation. More speculation than I've ever heard before. I mean, we can't control that. It is people's livelihood to speculate and try to get scoops on other people. It is a little different this year for sure."

O'Day said we should not forget there is a person with a family on the other end of each mention of trade speculation.

"It is easy to forget that players are just paid people, too," he said. "Families and important life decisions can be affected. People forget when you get released you are getting fired and fired in front of everybody. Traded is a little bit different. But it's a public business and that is part of it. But there is a human element here and it is human nature to want to know your future and where you may spend the next few months or years."

I asked O'Day if players reach out to team management to see if there is truth to any rumors or speculation that they hear and read.

"No, I never have," he said. "I can't speak for other guys. But I've never spoken with management on possible trades. But if front offices aren't at least looking to see what they can get for their players, they're being negligent. I think is is part of the game and they are trying to run a business. Part of that business is trading players and looking toward the future. Looking three, four or five years down the road to have a sustainable model. So we understand that, but you have to balance that with the human element and it is a big life change if you do get traded."

With the Orioles seven games out in the American League East and 5 1/2 out for the second wild card, the team's chances to contend this year could be slipping away. O'Day said he would understand if the team started looking more to the future now.

"That is their job. I don't know what they are thinking. I have my opinions but I'm not necessarily going to share them right now," he said.