Love was in the air this week, not because of Valentine’s Day, but because pitchers and catchers reported to Sarasota for spring training.
This year feels particularly exciting with the addition of 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, who was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospects Joey Ortiz, D.L. Hall and a draft pick.
Burnes joins a rotation that already includes two aces, namely Kyle Bradish and John Means, and floated by young stud Grayson Rodriguez, with Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin all expected to make contributions in the rotation early on this season.
But news yesterday morning let some air out of the excitement balloon, as Baltimore Sun beat writer Jacob Calvin Meyer put it, following reports that Bradish sprained his UCL and Means is a month behind schedule.
Bradish will likely recover fairly quickly, but with Means’ overall reliability on the hot seat, many are rightfully asking whether the O’s should go out and get another starting pitcher. And if so, who?
The O’s, by all means, do not need another starter. But with one of the league’s lowest payrolls (ranking 22 out of 30 teams), the No. 1 farm system in baseball and new ownership, it really begs the question: Why not?
Here, we break down the most logical contenders:
Trade Candidates
Dylan Cease
With the Chicago White Sox in a perpetual rebuild, offloading Dylan Cease for a couple of prospects could be a win-win for both teams.
The Sox took Cease to arbitration this year, where he ultimately signed a one-year, $8 million contract. He is arbitration eligible again next year and becomes a free agent in 2026.
Pros: Cease’s five-year career with the White Sox has been nothing short of impressive, finishing in second place in 2022 Cy Young voting behind future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. He’s a strikeout king with a nasty slider and is pretty reliable in terms of health.
His 2023 season was not his most impressive, but a lot of that has to do with the Sox’s abysmal defense and lack of competent catchers, both of which would be greatly improved with the O’s roster behind him.
Cons: Back in August, rumor had it that Chicago would not budge on a Cease trade that didn’t include the top prospect in baseball, Jackson Holliday. Now, even White Sox fans knew that was absurd, but Chicago’s front office is not known for having its finger on the pulse of anything. Expectations are also high after the O’s seemingly fleeced Milwaukee for Burnes.
Realistically, the White Sox should expect a similar package from the Orioles in a trade for Cease, as really any prospect would help since the Sox only have two top-100 prospects (SS Colson Montgomery, No. 9, and LHP Noah Schultz, No. 50). At the end of the day, beggars can’t be choosers, and the White Sox are in a dire position.
Shane Bieber
The case for Shane Bieber is more so one of the processes of elimination rather than one that makes the most sense.
While I would personally put Jesús Luzardo at the top of my list, it’s not likely the Miami Marlins will want to give up Luzardo, who keeps their rotation competitive despite the loss of Sandy Alcántara, who is out this season recovering from Tommy John. The same argument could be made for Braxton Garrett, who is under club control through 2028.
Pros: Bieber would be a definite upgrade for the rotation. He hits free agency next year anyway, and Cleveland is not known to give out big extensions. Might as well cash in for some young blood while they can, and, let’s face it, by all predictions, Cleveland is not a contender in the AL Central this year. Again, this could be a win-win for both clubs.
Cons: The asking price for Bieber would also be very high, and unlike Cease, much more justifiably so. The Orioles would be looking at another Burnes-caliber deal, and if Cleveland was smart, they would ask for more in return.
Is it worth it? Before the addition of Burnes, I would say, absolutely. But Bradish and Means will both be back in due time, so giving up the farm for one year of Bieber is probably not the best move at this time.
Free Agents
Blake Snell
Former San Diego Padre Blake Snell is fresh off a Cy-Young-winning season, posting a whopping 6.0 WAR. His career figures are consistent, and he has not suffered very serious injuries.
Pros: In addition to his stats, which speak for themselves, Snell’s advantage would be his familiarity with the AL East, playing five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Additionally, Snell has significant postseason experience, something that became a blatantly apparent issue with this young O’s team this past postseason. Snell is also left-handed, which would be a great addition to this O’s right-hand-dominated rotation.
Cons: Snell knows his worth, causing controversy during the COVID-shortened 2020 season by stating he would rather not play at all than take a pay cut for an increased health risk. Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, the takeaway is that the pot for Snell best be sweetened, especially in the wake of his Cy Young season.
As of now, it looks like Snell is likely to re-sign with the Padres. There are rumors that he may sign with the New York Yankees, and they certainly would shell out the money for him. But with the pending new ownership and already low payroll, the O’s would be remiss not to dish out for this star lefty.
Jordan Montgomery
The 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers have indicated that re-signing free agent Jordan Montgomery is not in the cards, as their super-inflated payroll is apparently maxed out. Montgomery is looking for a $20-25 million per year contract, a 100-150% increase over last year’s arbitration deal.
Pros: Montgomery is another left-hander who would be a significant boost to the Orioles’ rotation, along with his postseason experience. Similar to Snell, his veteran presence could be a great addition to the team.
Cons: Montgomery, unfortunately, has more cons than pros. To start, he is very injury-prone. With injuries being the reason we are even having this discussion in the first place, adding Montgomery wouldn’t do much to alleviate the issue.
His asking price is particularly high, but that’s honestly the market in today’s game. This could end up being a high-risk, low-reward situation for the Orioles that, in my opinion, they should avoid, given that they are not in a desperate situation.
To be extremely reductive, Montgomery is just a riskier version of Snell. I would not put my eggs in this basket.
Out of Pocket
Zack Wheeler
OK, I know what you’re thinking. But, hear me out.
While giving Wheeler a contract extension is a priority for the contending Philadelphia Phillies, they also just re-signed Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million deal.
With the Phillies’ payroll currently ranking fourth in MLB, coming in at $226.1 million, I’m not entirely confident that John Middleton would be up for a major extension for the 34-year-old. Plus, with Brandon Marsh’s offseason knee surgery, the Phillies could use a serviceable outfielder, something the Orioles are not short of.
This is not a trade I would make tomorrow. But it’s something to keep an eye on as the season progresses and immediate needs become more apparent.
Do you think the O’s should add another starter? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment