Will the Baltimore Orioles Add an Ace?
The Baltimore Orioles have been linked to several pitchers this offseason. But with trade talks stalled, will the Orioles add an ace?
Coming off a Cinderella season in 2023, the Baltimore Orioles entered the offseason in need of pitchers. The team lost their All-Star closer Felix Bautista to a season-ending elbow injury and veteran starters Kyle Gibson and Jack Flaherty to free agency. While the Orioles signed veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal, Baltimore has yet to add an ace to their rotation.
Without the money to sign many of the top free-agent pitchers, the Orioles will find their ace in the trade market. But are they willing to part with their top prospects to add the ace they need this offseason?
The Case for Dylan Cease
The Orioles have been linked to White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease for a while now. Cease had a down year in 2023 with a 4.58 ERA and 79 walks. But his high strikeout numbers make up for these faults. The veteran right-hander has had 210+ strikeouts for the past three seasons and was the Cy Young runner-up in 2022.
Over his five years in Chicago, Cease has a 43-35 record with a 3.83 ERA and a 792/294 K/BB ratio. Cease would be a dominant force in Baltimore and elevate a young Orioles rotation. He still has two years left on his contract, so an immediate extension isn’t necessary.
The issue is that the trade package the Chicago White Sox want in return for their ace is high. Baltimore has the prospects available to make a trade, but they aren’t going to overpay. Chicago’s asking price for Dylan Cease is “unrealistic.” Among the Orioles prospects the White Sox are reportedly seeking are Colton Cowser or Heston Kjerstad. There are two outfielders that general manager Mike Elias is reluctant to give up.
This is no surprise, though; both Cowser and Kjerstad are names likely to come up in a potential deal. But the keyword here is “or”. Trading away both Cowser and Kjerstad would be crazy, but the White Sox are reportedly only looking for one. Depending on what other prospects Chicago is asking for, a deal for Dylan Cease could be reached.
If Not Dylan Cease, Then Who?
The Orioles have also been linked to Miami Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo this offseason. Luzardo just reached a new deal with the Marlins, avoiding arbitration, and Miami is not guaranteed to trade him. But the 26-year-old left-hander has heard his name “percolating” among teams looking for starting pitchers.
Luzardo had a breakout season in 2023. The left-hander had a 3.58 ERA and an impressive 208/55 K/BB ratio last season. Setting new career-highs in innings pitched (178.2) and strikeouts (208).
With three years left on his contract, if Miami trades Luzardo, he will not come cheap. The Marlins traded Pablo López and two prospects to the Minnesota Twins for second baseman Luis Arráez last season. So, Miami is no stranger to trading pitchers for hitters. Jackson Holliday is expected to debut this year, so trading Cowser, Kjerstad, or Coby Mayo for Luzardo could make sense.
Baltimore could turn to the free-agent market instead, with Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber unlikely to be traded. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are available and would be great additions to the Orioles rotation. However, with the lefties both seeking a contract worth $20 million, it is unlikely that either one will land in Baltimore.
The Orioles have expressed interest in middle-tier pitchers and have recently been linked to left-hander James Paxton. Paxton has struggled with injuries in recent years, but in five starts for Boston last season, he put up a 3-0 record with a 1.74 ERA and a 34/6 K/BB ratio. He has a 64-38 record with a 3.69 ERA over his 10-year career. Should Baltimore sign James Paxton, the hope would be that he can stay healthy and return to pre-injury form.
Will the Baltimore Orioles Add an Ace?
With spring training just a few weeks away, it is time for the Baltimore Orioles to add a pitcher to their rotation before Opening Day. Even if the Orioles don’t make a blockbuster trade or sign a big-name free agent, they need to sign someone. The Orioles have the prospects to trade for a pitcher like Dylan Cease, but Chicago’s high asking price has stalled trade talks. While Cease and his two years of club control seem perfect for Baltimore, other pitchers are available. One of the pitfalls for the Orioles last season was their starting rotation. For Baltimore to build on last year’s Cinderella season and make a deep run, the Orioles must add an ace.
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