The buzz around Samuel Basallo dated all the way back to the dark days of the rebuild. The Orioles were just breaking into the modern international market back in 2021, and Basallo’s $1.3 million deal represented a shift in the organization’s philosophy under Mike Elias.

Basallo did his part in the minors, but top draftees like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday found their way into the spotlight. Basallo played his way into the “untouchable” category during trade deadlines, but he remained far from the big leagues when the Birds returned to the postseason in 2023.

Orioles fans and executives were still looking forward to Basallo’s eventual arrival, but a division title shifted the focus to the present. Baltimore entered 2025 with every intention of returning to the p

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