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For the past year, the big question for the Orioles is whether theyll add a high-end starting pitcher. While and took steps forward in 2023 (during the second half of the season in the latters case), theres clearly still room for another pitcher who can slot into the upper half of the rotation. Os general manager Mike Elias during the GM Meetings a few weeks ago. Baltimore has done virtually nothing in free agency during Elias five-year tenure. Theyre still yet to sign a free agent to a multi-year contract. Much of that has been amidst a rebuild, so theres a po sibility for Elias and his front office to be more aggre sive. To that end, reported this morning that the Os had shown interest in during his free agency. Theres no indication that Baltimore ever put forth a formal offer before Nola returned to the Phillies on a seven-year, $172MM contract. The right Jose Ruiz Jersey -hander was obviously going to require a commitment well into nine figures, so the Os being involved at all hints at some willingne s to pursue a notable free agent strike. and should land more significant contracts than the one that Nola received. , and NPB star are among the next tier of free agent starters. wrote yesterday that Yamamoto whom MLBTR predicts for a nine-year, $225MM contract is likely to be out of Baltimores comfort zone financially. Free agency is only one means of bringing in pitching talent. There are a few notable names who could be available on the trade market. Its hard to envision the Rays moving within the AL East, but each of and have also been floated as candidates. Dubroff suggests the Os have interest in both hurlers no surprise given their talent and the teams desire for a rotation upgrade. Baltimore still has a top-tier farm system despite the prospect graduations of Rodriguez and Rookie of the Year winner . Its safe to a sume that duo and top shortstop prospect are off the table in talks. Players like , and are among numerous younger talents whom Elias and his staff could make available if they pursued a trade for a high-end starter (particularly one like Cease, who has two seasons of remaining arbitration control). Also on the docket for the Orioles this winter: finding clarity on their lease agreement with the Maryland Stadium Authority. The franchise announced in late September that they had agreed to a 30-year lease extension at Camden Yards. One day later, the Baltimore Sun reported that it was instead a non-binding memorandum of understanding. That agreement would provide the Orioles long-term development rights around the stadium but did not represent an official extension of the lease. With the current lease expiring on December 31, reports that the state and the team are considering decoupling the lease from the development rights to facilitate getting a binding lease in place within the next five weeks. As Barker points out, the legislative hurdles to be cleared are lower for the lease agreement itself than for the accompanying development plans. Tabling those discu sions (even temporarily) could get an official lease extension in place to firmly put to rest any questions about the Os future in Baltimore. In 2019, owner John Angelos pledged the organization will remain in the city as long as Fort McHenry is watching over the harbor. Tanner Banks Jersey |
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