The Orioles stood pat at the Major League Baseball trade deadline July 31, ending speculation they may trade some of their best players for young prospects who could aid in the team's years-long rebuild.
For J.J. Cooper, executive editor of Baseball America, the deadline wasn't one Orioles general manager Mike Elias needed to necessarily "win" because it's far too early in the team's rebuilding process.
"This is not a trade deadline you can really say, 'OK, Mike Elias needs to win this trade deadline.'" Cooper said on Glenn Clark Radio July 31. "When he came in, this team had no hope of any short-term or medium-term success. He took over a roster that was bereft, that was the worst team in baseball with a farm system that did not have a significant number of players to turn to and say these are the guys that are going to turn this around."
