When a team wins over 90 games in two consecutive seasons, you’d naturally expect them to do great in the next season as well. Right? But, here we are – one month into the 2025 season – and the Baltimore Orioles only managed to stand at 11-17, ranking at the bottom of the AL. The downfall is so bad that the Orioles are now 7 games under .500. Not to forget, it’s still April, and most of the season is ahead of them. So, what has really gone wrong with the Orioles?

Apparently, a lot. For starters, the injuries have hit them hard. But every team this season has seen more than its fair share of injuries. So, even if we set the injury bug aside, the players who have managed to stay off the injured list aren’t performing well. Take Adley Rutschman, for instance – he hasn’t been his usual self. And their starting rotation? It’s showing some serious cracks.

If they keep losing like this, it could all come down to trading away their key pieces. As it stands, one of the Orioles’ elite players could potentially be traded at this year’s deadline. And that player is none other than Cedric Mullins.

To give you an idea of his impressive numbers, Mullins holds the slash line of .279/.421/.547 with six home runs as well as 20 RBIs. While it’s unfortunate for the Orioles, it’s exciting for the Philadelphia Phillies. After all, the Phillies are thriving only on paper — their bullpen struggles are no secret. And their outfield? Anything but functional.

The Phillies are having a hard time with their center fielders. For starters, their center outfielders rank 29th in the majors. That tells you just how desperate the Phillies would be to fix that area. Not to sugarcoat, it’s Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas who haven’t been holding up well.

So, naturally, Mullins could offer the reliability the Phillies are looking for. It’s all up to the Orioles. But if this trade gets materialized, it could spark a serious outrage among the Orioles’ nation. They can’t bear to see their star player in any other uniform. But if Mullins becomes available for the trade, the Phillies won’t flinch to sign him.

But the chances are slim that the Orioles would consider it. Given that Mullins finally helped them break the dry spell with his stellar performance against the Yankees.

Backbone of Orioles against the Yankees: Cedric Mullins

The Orioles have struggled through the entire 2025 season. They have been handed five painful defeats coming off the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers. Following those losses, they had an intense matchup against the New York Yankees — and they were desperate for a turnaround.

To their rescue, Mullins stepped up and helped the Orioles secure a 4-3 victory. Sure, it was a close call, but the victory gave the Orioles a much-needed boost to keep coming out strong. After all, the Bronx Bombers are one of the toughest teams to beat, but the Orioles managed to tilt the odds in their favor.

During the fifth inning, Mullins delivered a stunning defensive play. Just when Paul Goldschmidt hit what looked like a sure home run to center field. That’s when Mullins rushed and jumped in and made a legendary catch. Now you know why the Phillies would love to get him signed; it’s his rare talent.

Right after his catch, pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano was so stunned that he waited by the dugout stairs to give a big bear hug to Mullins. The crowd was wide-eyed. The Orioles badly needed a win to boost morale — and Mullins delivered when it mattered most. If the Orioles can manage to keep him, there may still be hope for a stronger second half of the season.