Orioles Pitcher Emerging as ‘Hidden Gem' Trade Candidate

The Baltimore Orioles are 31-37, fourth place in the American League East and two games back from a wild-card spot. Led by first-year manager Craig Albernaz, Baltimore is fighting an uphill battle to make a postseason appearance.

With less than two months from the MLB trade deadline, the Orioles are expected to hear offers for several of their top players. That includes for relief pitcher Rico Garcia, who, in his sixth season, is putting together one of his most productive years.

The righty is labeled as one of the trade market's "hidden gems" in an article from Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer.

"Assuming Baltimore is willing to sell high on the 32-year-old, Rico Garcia is the hidden gem of this summer's market," Rymer wrote. "He's faced 96 batters and allowed only those eight hits, and not one of his four pitches (yes, four) is being hit for better than a .125 average. This is a guy every contender should be in on."

This season, he has appeared in 30 games, recording 28 innings, a 1.29 ERA, a .640 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, a 1.5 WAR and an opponent slash line of .099/.180/.231. He has nearly surpassed his single-season career high in innings pitched, which sits at 34.1 from last year.

However, it isn't just strong production that makes Garcia such an intriguing trade candidate. According to FanGraphs, he isn't arbitration-eligible until 2028 and won't hit free agency until 2031.

While he is a valuable asset for the Orioles, his combination of elite short-term production and long-term team control should make him a sought-after option for any contender ahead of the trade deadline.

With Baltimore trending toward missing the postseason for a second straight year, there may be no better time to trade Garcia.

Related: Padres' Craig Stammen Makes Feelings Clear on Manny Machado After Reds Loss

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 10:52 AM.