The Orioles got another starting pitcher, but they gave up two MLB-ready bats to do so.
About four hours before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, the Orioles acquired left-hander Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins for prospects Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers, a source confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Rogers will join a rotation that also added right-hander Zach Eflin, whom the Orioles acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Rogers, 26, has a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP with the National League-worst Marlins this season. In his first year of arbitration, Rogers is under control through the 2026 season — likely a significant reason the Orioles needed to give up both Norby and Stowers to acquire him.
Rogers, the 13th overall pick out of a New Mexico high school in the 2017 draft, broke out in 2021 with the Marlins to make his first and only All-Star team and finish second in NL Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 2.64 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 133 innings. But he has yet to recapture that success since, pitching to a 4.92 ERA with a 1.494 WHIP and fewer strikeouts than innings pitched since 2022. He has been better of late with a 3.48 ERA over his past 10 starts, but owns a career 4.23 ERA across 80 starts.
Rogers now gives the Orioles a rotation with five experienced MLB starters, but he isn’t as flashy or dominant as other names on the market, including left-handers Blake Snell and Garrett Crochet. Ace Corbin Burnes will continue to headline the group, while Grayson Rodriguez, Eflin, Rogers and Dean Kremer round it out.
Norby, 24, and Stowers, 26, have both spent time in the major leagues with the Orioles and have proved they are too good for Triple-A. Norby, a second baseman who can play corner outfield, is a career .296 hitter with an .877 OPS in 227 Triple-A games. Stowers, an outfielder who can play all three spots, has hit .253 with an .870 OPS in 243 career Triple-A contests.
However, Baltimore’s position player depth made opportunities for them in the majors difficult to find. With Jackson Holliday likely the future at second base and Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser already performing in the major leagues, Norby and Stowers found themselves on the outside looking in. Stowers debuted with the Orioles in 2022 and appeared briefly in each of the past three seasons. Norby made his MLB debut in June when Jorge Mateo was injured and rejoined the team last week when Mateo suffered another ailment.
Stowers was once seen as part of the future in Baltimore after the Orioles selected him with their third pick in the 2019 draft — after Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson. Norby, who Baseball America ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Orioles farm system, was drafted in the second round in 2021 after Baltimore selected Cowser with its first pick.
The Athletic was first to report the Orioles had acquired Rogers. FanSided first reported Norby’s inclusion, while MLB.com was first to report Stowers was in the deal.
This story will be updated.