The Baltimore Orioles front office could make the case that their starting rotation is set for the 2026 season. However, given its current state, is it good enough to compete with the cream of the crop in the American League East?
On paper, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox arguably have better. starting rotations. Paper doesn’t win on the field, but each of those three teams has loaded up their rotations.
The Orioles added former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. They beat out the Red Sox for him, but Boston landed Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez. Given the additions by all teams in the division, Baltimore could use the top remaining free agent pitcher on the market. According to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Orioles remain the top candidate to sign Framber Valdez.
Baltimore Orioles Favored to Sign Framber Valdez
You get the feeling that this is bound to happen. For a good part of the offseason, Valdez had been linked to Baltimore. The closer we get to spring training, the more realistic the chance it has of happening. Miller listed the Orioles as the most likely destination for the former Houston Astros ace.
Currently, Baltimore’s rotation is locked in with Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, and Dean Kremer. Baz was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, and Eflin was re-signed. There is room for an addition, and the President of Baseball Operations, Mike Elias, could still make a splash.
“Though they traded away Grayson Rodriguez (after he missed the entire 2025 campaign), the Orioles added Baz via trade, re-signed Eflin on a short-term deal, and, unlike last season, should have all of Rogers, Bradish, and Tyler Wells available on Opening Day instead of rehabbing injuries,” Miller wrote. “They have been one of the top candidates to land Valdez since the offseason began, really emerging as one of the favorites during the Winter Meetings.”
Valdez went 13-11 in 31 starts for the Astros last season with a 3.68 ERA in 192 innings and striking out 187. He had a 3.8 WAR, which was down from his career-high of 4.5 in 2024, but Elias adding Valdez to the top of his rotation is a game-changer.
Framber Valdez is Exactly What the Orioles Need in the Loaded AL East
In terms of not falling too far behind the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees in starting pitching, signing Valdez is a reason to do so. Some believe that Valdez remains unsigned because of his cross-up with César Salazar in September, which might be keeping teams away.
That could be the case. However, the longer Valdez goes unsigned, the less likely it is that he gets a long-term deal. That could benefit Baltimore with a short-term deal. It would cost more money, but at 32 years old, not many teams would be committing to him long-term.
At the beginning of the offseason, MLB Trade Rumors projected a five-year, $150 million contract. That seems unlikely at this point.
Valdez is the last game-changing starting pitcher left. If the Baltimore Orioles are looking to compete in the AL East, striking on Valdez is an option. According to Miller, they have the best chance to do so.
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