MLB Mailbag:

"When the Orioles drafted Rodriguez 11th overall out of high school in 2018, the club was a few months away from replacing Dan Duquette with Elias as the head of baseball operations. So Elias wasn't involved with that pick, but he is intimately familiar with Rodriguez's career and health history. Once one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, Rodriguez's injuries began with a 2022 Grade 2 lat strain that cost him three months and pushed back his expected Major League debut. He was healthy in 2023, had some success in the Majors, and totaled 165 innings - the only time in his career he's topped 117 frames."

"Rodriguez missed 19 days with shoulder inflammation in May 2024, and then saw his season end that year on July 31st due to what was initially called a mild lat strain. No one could've guessed that quality start against the Blue Jays would close the book on Rodriguez's Orioles career before his 25th birthday. The big righty supposedly entered 2025 without restrictions, and claimed he wasn't hurt when his velocity was down in spring training. But in March he was diagnosed with elbow inflammation, compounded in April by another "mild lat strain." It was initially thought Rodriguez would return in the second half, but he experienced elbow discomfort while rehabbing and was shut down. After multiple opinions wer"

Grayson Rodriguez was a top pitching prospect drafted 11th overall in 2018 and later reached the Major Leagues, logging 165 innings in 2023. Recurring injuries began with a 2022 Grade 2 lat strain that delayed his debut and continued with shoulder inflammation in May 2024 and a season-ending mild lat strain on July 31, 2024. Spring 2025 showed reduced velocity and subsequent diagnoses of elbow inflammation and another mild lat strain. Rehab produced elbow discomfort that prompted shutdowns and multiple medical opinions. Those health concerns influenced the decision to trade him for a more certain immediate contributor.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors