Baltimore Orioles: A Look at Their Pitching Needs

The Baltimore Orioles have made significant strides in recent seasons, re-establishing themselves as one of the promising teams in the American League. With a young core of position players, such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Austin Hays, the Orioles are well-positioned to make a long-term playoff push. However, as any baseball fan or analyst will tell you, success in the MLB is built on the foundation of strong pitching, and this is where the Orioles’ current roster presents both opportunities and challenges.

Despite the emergence of several young and promising pitchers, including Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish, the team still lacks that ace-level talent that could truly solidify their rotation and elevate them into championship contention. The starting pitching staff, while solid, has been inconsistent, and having a proven All-Star pitcher could provide the stability and dominance necessary to compete with top-tier teams in the postseason.

In the following sections, we’ll break down the reasons why the Orioles should target an All-Star starting pitcher, which types of pitchers would fit their needs, and what the potential trade could look like.

The Case for an All-Star Starting Pitcher

1. Current Pitching Situation and Lack of a True Ace

Looking at the current makeup of the Orioles’ pitching staff, the team has some promising young arms but lacks a true number one starter who can carry the load throughout the season and into the postseason.

• Grayson Rodriguez has shown flashes of brilliance, but his development has been slower than anticipated, and he’s still working on consistency at the major league level.
• Kyle Bradish has had some strong outings, but he’s also been prone to the occasional blow-up game.
• Dean Kremer and Jack Flaherty (acquired during the 2023 trade deadline) provide depth, but neither have proven to be a reliable ace over the course of a full season.

The reality is that while the Orioles’ pitching staff has some exciting young talent, none of these pitchers are guaranteed to be a true ace for a postseason run. A team’s rotation needs that rock, someone who can go out every fifth day and give the team a chance to win without the worry of inconsistency creeping in. Trading for an established All-Star starting pitcher would give the Orioles that edge.

2. Playoff Aspirations and Contending for a World Series

The Orioles have not made a deep postseason run in years, but their emergence in recent seasons, culminating in a Wild Card berth in 2023, suggests that they are ready to compete for a World Series title. For a team with such an exciting lineup, led by the aforementioned Rutschman and Henderson, the Orioles are in prime position to push for a deeper playoff run.

In the postseason, the importance of starting pitching only intensifies. A team with a deep bullpen and a strong offense will still need a couple of reliable aces to get through the intense five- or seven-game series. Without that kind of top-tier talent in the rotation, the Orioles might fall short, no matter how good the rest of their roster is.

Consider the successful teams in recent years: the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves, all of whom have had elite starting pitchers leading their rotations. Whether it’s Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, or Spencer Strider, these teams have been able to ride dominant starting pitching into the postseason and, more importantly, into the World Series.

For the Orioles to take the next step, they’ll need a similar type of pitcher.

3. The Current Market for Starting Pitching

While top-tier starting pitchers don’t grow on trees, the trade market for such players often fluctuates with teams looking to offload salary or rebuild their roster. For the Orioles, the timing could be right to acquire a high-end arm.

Many teams with contending aspirations could look to bolster their rotation for a postseason push, but there will also be sellers looking to move star pitchers in exchange for young talent or a package of prospects. The Orioles, with a loaded farm system, could be in a strong position to make such a trade.

Moreover, the market for All-Star pitchers is often crowded, with several teams looking for the same kinds of players. Thus, making a trade early, or identifying the right player before other teams, could give the Orioles the jump they need.

Which All-Star Pitchers Should the Orioles Target?

Now that we’ve established the importance of adding an All-Star starting pitcher, let’s look at a few potential candidates that could help the Orioles immediately. These pitchers may or may not be available depending on the market dynamics, but here are a few who could make sense.

1. Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers)

One of the top targets that could be available in the near future is Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers. Burnes is an established ace with a career ERA of 3.03 and a Cy Young award under his belt in 2021.

Burnes has been the backbone of the Brewers’ pitching staff for years and has the kind of stuff that can dominate in the postseason. His fastball-slider combination is one of the most lethal in baseball, and he’s capable of taking over games in a way that would benefit the Orioles.

The Brewers have been known to trade players when their contract status becomes uncertain, and Burnes is entering his arbitration years. Milwaukee could look to move him for the right price, and the Orioles, with their young talent, could be a perfect match.

2. Dylan Cease (Chicago White Sox)

Another All-Star caliber pitcher who could be on the market is Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox. Cease has quickly established himself as one of the premier strikeout pitchers in the league, and while he’s still under team control, the White Sox are in a rebuilding phase.

Cease has posted a sub-3.50 ERA in each of the last three seasons, and his strikeout rate is elite. As a power pitcher with solid command, he’d be a huge asset to any team looking to make a playoff run.

The White Sox could be open to dealing Cease as they continue to focus on their rebuilding efforts, and the Orioles could put together a package of young talent that would appeal to Chicago. Cease would fit perfectly into the Orioles’ rotation, providing another young but proven ace-level arm.

3. Luis Castillo (Seattle Mariners)

Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners is another intriguing option. Castillo, acquired by Seattle at the 2022 trade deadline, has quickly become the ace of their rotation. With a career ERA of 3.51 and a strong K/BB ratio, Castillo has the ability to shut down top-tier offenses.

The Mariners have shown that they are willing to make moves to improve their roster, and depending on their own goals and the state of their rebuild, Castillo could be made available.

Castillo’s power fastball and devastating changeup would complement the Orioles’ pitching staff nicely, and his experience in the postseason would provide the leadership the Orioles may need in the most important games of the year.

What Would a Potential Trade Look Like?

Now that we’ve identified a few potential targets, let’s turn our attention to what the Orioles would need to offer in return. The trade for an All-Star starting pitcher will almost certainly require a significant package of prospects, especially if the target is a controllable asset like Burnes, Cease, or Castillo.

1. Young MLB Players

The Orioles would likely have to part with some of their promising young talent. Players like Grayson Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson, or Jordan Westburg could be included in a trade, although the team will be hesitant to part with their top prospects. Moving Henderson or Rodriguez would certainly be a tough decision, as they are integral to the Orioles’ long-term future.

2. Top Prospects

The Orioles are fortunate to have one of the deepest farm systems in the MLB, and this could be the key to landing an All-Star starting pitcher. Players like Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, and Jackson Holliday (the top-ranked prospect in baseball) could form part of the package in a trade.

While trading top prospects is always a difficult decision, it’s important to remember that prospects are not guaranteed to develop into star-level players. In a trade for an ace pitcher, the Orioles would be trading potential for certainty, and that’s a trade-off many contending teams are willing to make.

 A Smart Move for the Orioles

Acquiring an All-Star starting pitcher would be a bold and necessary move for the Baltimore Orioles as they look to contend in the American League. With a solid offense and young talent in the rotation, the addition of a proven ace would give them the consistency they need to compete with the top teams in baseball.

While there are risks associated with giving up key prospects, the Orioles are in a prime position to make a move that will accelerate their championship window. Whether it’s Corbin Burnes, Dylan Cease, or Luis Castillo, the acquisition of an ace could be the final piece the Orioles need to make a deep postseason run and, perhaps, bring a World Series championship back to Baltimore.

If the Orioles can strike the right balance between their future and present needs, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. The time to make a move is now, and the Orioles should be encouraged to take that step toward securing a top-tier starting pitcher.