This story is excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, Click here. And subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE – The Orioles have made it known that they are pitch targeting helps this offseason. They plan to add a starter, ideally one who can fill a top-three spot in the rotation, and a back reliever, preferably one with closing experience who can help offset the loss of Félix Bautista (out for 2024 following Tommy John surgery).
Here’s the pressing question, though: How will Baltimore acquire these types of pitchers?
That will be the hot topic surrounding the Orioles at this year’s Winter Meetings, which begin Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee. The event provides an opportune time for Baltimore and the 29 other Major League Baseball clubs to set the stage for executive moves this offseason. agents and other staff converge at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for four days.
Since the Orioles hired Mike Elias as general manager in November 2018, the club has not been a major player in the Hot Stove season. They haven’t signed a single free agent to a multi-year deal, nor have they made any blockbuster offseason trades.
The O’s haven’t been big spenders either. During Elias’ tenure, only Kyle Gibson, signed before last year’s Winter Meetings, had a salary of at least $10 million.
But times have changed in Baltimore. The reconstruction is complete. The Orioles are coming off a 101-win season in which they won the American League East and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. With the window open, it’s possible they’ll now be more aggressive in their movements out of season.
“We’re in a mode now where we’re adding Major League players rather than subtracting them, so I continue to see this whole thing growing,” Elias said during general managers’ meetings in early November. “When that happens and to what extent, it’s not something I’m going to lock myself into. But I think we’re just going to see continued growth from the Orioles, and that will include Major League payroll.
It seems unlikely the Orioles will commit to the type of contract the Cardinals gave Gray, which will average $25 million per year, with a $30 million club option for 2027. So Baltimore could outbidding if she pursues players like Josh Hader. , Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other top free agent pitchers. The O’s probably won’t hand out anything close to the mega-deal worth $172 million over seven years this right-hander Aaron Nola received from the Phillies either.
If Baltimore is active in the free agent pitching market, it is more likely to sign a starter below the next level and a veteran closer to a one-year deal. Eduardo Rodriguez, Lucas Giolito, Michael Lorenzen and Marcus Stroman are among the available starters, while Craig Kimbrel, Hector Neris and David Robertson could be closer targets.
While the Orioles may not win any free agent bidding wars, they could assemble an attractive trade package by leveraging position player talent in their stacked truss system. Making a deal with another team might be their most likely way to acquire a solid starter this offseason.
Tyler Glasnow of the Rays, Corbin Burnes of the Brewers and Shane Bieber of the Guardians have been featured in trade rumors, but each will be a free agent at the end of 2024. White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease could be a better choice for the O’s ., as he is under team control until 25.
When Elias and the rest of the Orioles front office leave Nashville next week, they still may not have any new pitchers on their roster. However, the Winter Meetings will allow them to meet agents and engage in commercial negotiations with other clubs, bringing them closer to achieving their main off-season goals.
