The Orioles have bolstered their pitching staff with a significant trade, acquiring left-hander Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins just hours before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline. In exchange, the Marlins received prospects Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers, according to a source confirmed by The Baltimore Sun.

Rogers, who will now join the Orioles’ rotation alongside recently acquired right-hander Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays, has had a challenging season with a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP while playing for the struggling Marlins. The 26-year-old is in his first year of arbitration and remains under team control through the 2026 season, which likely influenced the Orioles’ decision to part with both Norby and Stowers.

Following the trade, the Orioles selected utility player Terrin Vavra’s contract. Vavra, who made the Orioles’ opening day roster in 2023, has posted a .269/.377/.423 slash line with an .800 OPS in 31 games with Triple-A Norfolk this season.

Rogers, selected 13th overall from a New Mexico high school in the 2017 draft, had a standout year in 2021, earning an All-Star selection and finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting with a 2.64 ERA and 157 strikeouts. However, his performance has declined since then, with a 4.92 ERA and 1.494 WHIP since 2022, and he struggled last season due to injuries, including a left biceps strain and a partial tear in his right lat. Despite this, Rogers has shown improvement recently, with a 3.48 ERA over his past 10 starts. Over his career, he owns a 4.23 ERA across 80 starts.

The addition of Rogers provides the Orioles with a rotation that now includes five experienced MLB starters, though he is less dominant compared to other pitchers available on the market, such as left-handers Blake Snell and Garrett Crochet. The rotation will continue to be led by ace Corbin Burnes, with Grayson Rodriguez, Eflin, Rogers, and Dean Kremer rounding out the group.

Norby and Stowers, both of whom have played in the major leagues with the Orioles, are considered MLB-ready. Norby, a versatile second baseman and corner outfielder, has a career .296 batting average and .877 OPS in 227 Triple-A games. Stowers, an outfielder capable of playing all three positions, has a .253 average and .870 OPS in 243 career Triple-A games. Despite their talent, opportunities in the majors have been limited due to the depth of Baltimore’s position players, including the emerging Jackson Holliday and established major leaguers Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser.

Stowers, originally drafted by the Orioles in 2019 as their third pick, and Norby, a second-round pick in 2021, both faced obstacles in finding consistent major league playing time. Stowers debuted with the Orioles in 2022 and has had brief appearances in recent seasons, while Norby had a brief stint in the majors in June and returned last week due to injuries to Jorge Mateo.

The Orioles’ acquisition of Rogers and the departure of Norby and Stowers mark a significant shift in their roster, as they aim to strengthen their pitching staff and navigate the remainder of the season. The Athletic first reported the Orioles’ acquisition of Rogers, while FanSided and MLB.com provided details on Norby and Stowers being part of the trade.

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