Report: Orioles taking 'hard look' at Mariners' Miley

Knocked out of first place in the American League East on Saturday following another shaky outing from one of their starters, the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly taking a hard look at Seattle Mariners left-hander Wade Miley as the non-waiver trade deadline nears, reports Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckeball.

The Mariners have reportedly discussed Miley with a few teams, though, and Seattle's asking price may have jumped Saturday after the 29-year-old held the Chicago Cubs hitless through six innings. He ultimately allowed just one run while fanning nine batters over seven en route to a 4-1 win at Wrigley Field.

Still, notwithstanding his impressive outing on the North Side, Miley has struggled since getting traded to Seattle by the Boston Red Sox this winter, managing a career-worst 4.98 ERA through 19 starts while allowing 18 home runs in 112 innings (1.45 per nine).

The Orioles need rotation help badly, however, as their starters entered Saturday's matinee at Rogers Centre sitting third-last in the American League with a 4.98 ERA, and tied for second-last with a 1.45 WHIP. In their afternoon affair in Toronto, veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo didn't make it out of the fifth inning, allowing five runs on five hits, and five walks in 4 1/3 innings, his ERA ballooning to 5.70 in the process.

Though Miley's tenure in Seattle may soon be over, the Mariners seem unlikely to move any of their other starters, as general manager Jerry Dipoto said earlier this week that Taijuan Walker will "stay right where he is," and suggested left-hander James Paxton will, too.