Spring Training for the Baltimore Orioles is off to a rough start. The Orioles announced yesterday that two of their starting pitchers would begin the season on the injured list. While general manager Mike Elias expects both Kyle Bradish and John Means to come back, the team has not ruled out adding another pitcher.
Kyle Bradish said he’s confident he’ll be back this season despite the UCL sprain. The immediate results of the PRP injection are positive. He’ll throw today, lightly, his first time throwing in six weeks
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) February 16, 2024
Even if Bradish and Means make quick recoveries, as expected, the baseball season is long and injuries happen. Baltimore is still in the market for pitching depth and lucky for them, there are still some big names available.
John Means said it was the team’s decision for him to start his offseason throwing program a month late. He said he started throwing about two weeks ago.
He said it’s unlikely he will be ready for opening day but that he’s confident he will pitch this year.
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 16, 2024
Orioles Face Injury Woes Early On
Orioles Are Reportedly Still Working the Phones
The free agent market has been one of the slowest moving markets in recent memory. Two of the top free agent starters entering the off-season, lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, are still available. Both Snell and Montgomery are projected to receive nine-figure deals and it seems like they are both more than willing to wait for one to come. That being said, the Orioles have been rumored to be one of the teams showing interest in Snell.
As we know, the Orioles have no intention of overpaying for anyone this off-season. Elias was clear that the Orioles were more likely to make a trade than they were to compete for expensive free agents. While both Bradish and Means are expected to return, the Orioles are still working the phones looking for pitching depth.
Pitchers the Orioles Could Trade For
Dylan Cease
It’s no secret that Dylan Cease was one of the top trade targets for the Orioles, but the White Sox want too much. Chicago’s high asking price isn’t just too high for Baltimore, it’s too high for anyone. That high asking price is what led Baltimore to pivot and trade for Corbin Burnes instead.
Cease had a down year last year posting a 4.58 ERA and a 7-9 record, but Chicago’s lousy defense didn’t help him any. He has occasional command issues, but his high strikeout rate and his ability to hold runners makes up for it. The veteran right-hander has had 210+ strikeouts for the past three seasons and was the Cy Young runner-up in 2022.
Cease has Cy Young upside, but doesn’t have the same price tag as say Blake Snell. He also comes with two years of club control. Given the high asking price, the likelihood of Baltimore trading for Cease before the deadline is slim. But again, circumstances have changed. Baltimore isn’t expected to make a panic splurge, but if either Bradish or Means miss significant time, a Cease trade might be worth another look if the price is right.
Jesús Luzardo
Jesús Luzardo was one of the pitchers the Orioles most aggressively pursued in the trade market before acquiring Corbin Burnes. Luzardo had a breakout season for the Marlins 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). Luzardo has three-years of club control still on his contract compared to Burnes who will enter free agency in 2025.
Given the three-years of club control Luzardo still has, Miami was looking for a bigger trade package than Milwaukee. The Orioles were unwilling to meet the Marlins asking price before, but circumstances have changed. While Baltimore expects their injured starters to return, there is no guarantee. It might be worth trading for Luzardo now, especially with Burnes entering free agency next year.
Logan Gilbert
Logan Gilbert fits the mold of the Baltimore Orioles, he is a young pitcher with a bright future. The 26 year old right-hander has never missed a start since being called up by the Mariners in 2021. Gilbert isn’t as dominating of a pitcher as he is an efficient one. He is a hard thrower and had the fifth-lowest walk rate of qualified pitchers last season. He also tweaked his slider last year and had one of the most effective sliders in the game. Over 88 starts, Gilbert has pitched to a 32-18 record with a 3.76 ERA and 491 strikeouts.
Gilbert is a quality and affordable starter with four more years of club control before he reaches free agency. There is really no reason for the Mariners to trade Gilbert, but they have seemed willing to entertain trade talks for just about anyone. Seattle has plenty of starters, but they definitely need another bat in their lineup with some pop. Parting with a hard-hitting prospect or two for a young pitcher with four years of control left seems like a no-brainer for Baltimore.
The Orioles Will Keep Options Open
The Kyle Bradish injury news was not the way the Orioles wanted to start Spring Training. Not to mention, John Means is also expected to start the season on the injured list. While the Orioles expect both pitchers to pitch this season, they are reportedly keeping their options open. The Orioles could opt to trade for another arm or sign one out of free agency. Though any potential moves would have to come at the right price and would likely be dictated by the availability of Bradish and Means.
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