CLEVELAND — A fire sale at the trade deadline could put the Orioles in better position to compete again next season in more ways than one.

Baltimore (44-55) never expected to be sellers when it opened the year with World Series aspirations and the club has operated throughout the season with winning in mind, even as it’s slipped toward a likely exodus of players on expiring contracts at the deadline.

That could soon change. Should the front office trade away some of its veteran regulars and start looking ahead to 2026, more opportunities for prospects to see the field will likely follow.

“As spots become available — and whether that comes through injuries, which we’ve seen, or trades or free agency, or however this works — as spots open up, I think that’s where you see young guys get a little bit more leniency to play with,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said.

Here are five prospects who could get a chance to prove themselves with the Orioles down the stretch if they sell at the deadline.

Coby Mayo, first base/third base

Trades that could help: 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn, OF Cedric Mullins, OF Ramón Laureano

Mayo has already been on the Orioles’ roster for nearly two months now but hasn’t gotten much playing time since Jordan Westburg returned to the everyday lineup. Mansolino has penciled Mayo into just three of his 15 starting lineups this month, forcing the top infield prospect to the bench while he waits for another opportunity to arise.

With Westburg entrenched at third as long as Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday are healthy, Mayo has focused his defensive work at first during pregame workouts and shown signs of improvement in his sporadic appearances. O’Hearn is also the Orioles’ most likely player to be moved at the deadline and his absence would open up some playing time at the position.

Complicating matters is the potential return of Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring), who, like Mayo, hits from the right side, setting up an unnatural timeshare at the position. As a result, the real opportunity for Mayo to get regular at-bats is the scenario in which they trade an outfielder. Whether it’s Mullins or Laureano, the Orioles’ outfield logjam would clear up and create space for Mayo and Mountcastle to both start games using the designated hitter spot.

Samuel Basallo, catcher/first base

Trades that could help: 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn

The Orioles already have available space for Basallo behind the plate with Adley Rutschman (oblique), Gary Sánchez (hamstring), Maverick Handley (concussion/wrist) and Chadwick Tromp (back) all on the injured list. They’ve opted to give him more time to develop at the position instead but haven’t ruled out a promotion before the end of the year.

Basallo, while the No. 1 catching prospect in baseball, isn’t likely to spend all of his time there as long as Rutschman is around. The Orioles have had him develop at first base and he could get his first taste at both positions in the majors down the stretch if Baltimore moves fellow left-handed hitter O’Hearn.

Sánchez might not make it back in 2025 and though Rutschman and Handley are above Basallo on the organizational depth chart at catcher, there’s a plausible chance the Orioles carry three catchers next season to get the most out of Rutschman and Basallo. Trading O’Hearn would give them a chance to see what that could look like a little earlier.

Chayce McDermott (and Brandon Young), right-handed pitchers

Trades that could help: SP Zach Eflin, SP Charlie Morton, SP Tomoyuki Sugano, RP Seranthony Domínguez, RP Gregory Soto, RP Andrew Kittredge

Cheating a little bit here because McDermott hasn’t pitched since July 10 when he exited a start for Triple-A Norfolk with elbow discomfort. Assuming the injury doesn’t turn out to be something long term, McDermott could get a sustained opportunity to pitch either out of the rotation or bullpen over the final two months of the season. But Young, who has filled in for the injured Cade Povich (hip), is a strong candidate to make starts down the stretch as well.

The Orioles would likely have to trade multiple starters to get McDermott back up the majors as a starter. Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer probably aren’t going anywhere and Povich is a week or two away from returning from the IL, leaving McDermott to contest with Young for the last spot.

Young holds the edge between the two right now considering the Orioles called him up when Povich went down. But the bullpen might not be a bad landing spot for McDermott, whose more limited repertoire could play up in shorter appearances. Given his 29.8% career strikeout rate in Triple-A, McDermott has some raw potential worth seeing for Baltimore and a strong finish could put him in the mix for a roster spot next spring.

Dylan Beavers, outfield

Trades that could help: OF Cedric Mullins, OF Ramón Laureano

While Heston Kjerstad’s stock has fallen this season, Beavers’ has soared behind an .889 OPS in Triple-A. He’s cut down on his strikeouts and flashed a power-speed combo that has him on the doorstep of the majors. In fact, the 2022 first-round pick could be the Orioles’ first outfielder called up after the deadline, especially if both Mullins and Laureano are traded.

Trading Mullins would create a hole at center field in Baltimore for the first time in six years. Colton Cowser is almost certainly the top choice to fill it with Tyler O’Neill occupying right field. That leaves Laureano, and perhaps Beavers, in the left with the aforementioned opening in available playing time at DH — though Mayo’s development likely takes priority there.

It’s possible that Beavers, who isn’t on any major prospect rankings, gets the Kyle Stowers treatment and occupies the Orioles’ fourth outfielder role. But getting added to the 40-man roster ahead of the offseason could go a long way in setting him up to make some meaningful contributions to the club in 2026.

Cameron Weston, right-handed pitcher

Trades that could help: RP Seranthony Domínguez, RP Gregory Soto, RP Andrew Kittredge

A bit of a deeper cut here with Weston, who’s the Orioles’ No. 21 overall prospect in their farm system by Baseball America’s rankings. The right-hander has performed at every level of the minor leagues since Baltimore drafted him in the eighth round three years ago and after a rocky start in Triple-A Norfolk he’s settled into the Tides’ rotation.

Over his past 13 appearances (12 starts), Weston has a 4.06 ERA and solid 39% groundball rate while striking out just over a batter per inning. Though he could eventually stick as a back-end starter, he’s a long shot to see the Orioles’ rotation in 2025 with Young and McDermott ahead of him in the pecking order.

But depending on how many spots in their bullpen open up at the deadline, Weston could get a chance out of the Orioles’ bullpen. Fellow right-handers Kade Strowd and Yaramil Hiraldo are both already on the 40-man, but that shouldn’t stand in Weston’s way assuming the moves they make open up a few slots. Amid a trying year for Norfolk’s pitching staff, he’s one of the few arms worth taking a flier on if the Orioles’ roster allows.

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