Late final week, the Orioles added veteran right-hander Charlie Morton to their rotation combine on a one-year deal. On paper, the addition (alongside the membership’s one-year deal with Tomoyuki Sugano earlier final month) would seem to fill their rotation. Issues will not be that straightforward, nevertheless, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported this morning that Baltimore stays available in the market for upgrades even after including Morton to their rotation combine.
As famous by Rosenthal, the Orioles have already got a reasonably deep rotation combine as issues stand. Morton and Sugano are joined by Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez as locks for the membership’s rotation subsequent yr, with Dean Kremer poised to spherical out the beginning 5. Rosenthal means that veteran journeyman Albert Suárez might pitch in because the membership’s sixth starter if the Orioles go for a six-man rotation this yr, however even when they follow simply 5 starters Suárez figures to fit into the bullpen as a swing-man who can transfer again into the rotation as wanted. Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, and Chayce McDermott are all accessible as depth choices behind that group, as nicely.
If Baltimore have been so as to add one other starter, it appears probably that Kremer could be the odd man out. The proper-hander made 24 begins for the Orioles final yr and pitched to respectable outcomes, with a 4.10 ERA (92 ERA+) and a 4.32 FIP in 129 2/3 innings of labor. That’s completely strong manufacturing for a fifth starter, however these numbers additionally shouldn’t stop the Orioles from upgrading their rotation combine and squeezing Kremer out of the image. In any case, the right-hander has been at the least barely beneath common by measure of ERA+ in each season of his profession besides 2022, when he pitched to a formidable 3.23 ERA in 125 1/3 innings of labor in a profession yr.
Kremer, who’s arbitration eligible for the primary time in his profession this winter, has a minor league possibility remaining that might supply the Orioles some flexibility if the membership decides so as to add additional to its rotation. Speculatively talking, nevertheless, it’s additionally attainable that the membership might contemplate providing the right-hander as a part of the return to land a starter on the commerce market. Kremer has three seasons of workforce management remaining, so providing him up to be able to land a rental pitcher like Dylan Stop could be a dangerous transfer given the truth that Morton, Sugano, and Eflin are all already ticketed totally free company subsequent winter. That mentioned, it appears possible that Kremer might make sense as a part of the return for a controllable arm resembling Luis Castillo or Pablo López.
Rosenthal beforehand reported that the Mariners have some pause about dealing Castillo given their lackluster rotation depth behind the present beginning 5, which might make the Orioles a very good commerce associate in the event that they’re keen to make Kremer and even one among their youthful arms like Povich accessible. Rosenthal studies that the Mariners are requiring main league expertise in return for Castillo’s providers this winter, whereas noting that Baltimore appears reluctant to deal from its cache of younger place gamers. Maybe a bundle targeted on Kremer and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle might make some sense for either side, then, providing Seattle a pair of arbitration-level gamers with a number of years of management whereas touchdown the Orioles the controllable, front-line starter they’ve been looking for.
In fact, the commerce market isn’t the one approach that Baltimore might improve their rotation. Former Oriole Jack Flaherty remains to be accessible on the free agent market, and the membership was steadily related to him previous to the membership’s take care of Morton. If the Orioles stay available in the market for rotation upgrades even after including Morton to the fold, it stands to purpose that Flaherty stays at the least a possible match for the membership’s wants regardless of some latest reporting that has recommended the membership might balk on the righty’s asking value. Flaherty appears sure to land a multi-year deal this winter, with studies indicating he’s angling for a five-year pact. Such an addition would supply Baltimore a bit extra certainty in its rotation for 2026 and past by permitting them to challenge a beginning 5 that features Flaherty, Rodriguez, and Kremer for subsequent season alongside Kyle Bradish, who might return from elbow surgical procedure sooner or later within the second half this yr.
Transferring past the opportunity of additional rotation upgrades, Rosenthal provides that the Orioles hope to complement its bullpen combine this winter. The most important addition to Baltimore’s aid corps is bound to be the return for nearer Félix Bautista from Tommy John surgical procedure, but it surely stands to purpose that the membership might use at the least one veteran arm to affix Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, and Gregory Soto among the many membership’s potential late-inning choices forward of Bautista. Whereas Baltimore has not been straight related to any particular relievers on this yr’s free agent market, they determine to profit from the truth that there’s been minimal motion on the aid market up to now within the winter if the membership decides to carry off on including bullpen assist till later within the winter.
