Framber Valdez is the top free agent starting pitcher available, and there's one team that needs to sign him: the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles have made significant moves to boost their offense. They traded with the Los Angeles Angels to acquire Taylor Ward and added Pete Alonso in free agency. Adding two 30-home run hitters to an offense with Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, and Adley Rutschman gives the Orioles an offense that can get them back into the postseason after missing out last season.
The AL East is looking to be one of the toughest divisions in Major League Baseball next season. So the Orioles need to keep going all-in this offseason. They have the offense, but the pitching staff could use an upgrade. They've already improved a bullpen that ranked 25th last season in ERA (4.57). Andrew Kittredge returns to Baltimore in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, and Ryan Helsley was signed in free agency.
The Orioles' starting rotation is where upgrades are needed most. Shane Baz was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and will slot in behind Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish. Rogers had a career year, posting a 1.81 ERA over 109.2 innings with a 103:29 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Bradish made his return from a 2024 Tommy John surgery in late August last season. In 32 innings, he posted a 2.53 ERA with 47 strikeouts.
Baz has been in MLB for four seasons, but 2025 was the first time the righty pitched a full season free of injuries. He struggled, posting a 4.87 ERA over 166.1 innings, but had 176 strikeouts. The rest of the Orioles' starting rotation is Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin, who posted ERAs of 4.19 and 5.93, respectively. To be able to compete in the difficult AL East, the Orioles could benefit from adding another high-power pitcher, and that man is Valdez.
Rogers is the only left-handed starting pitcher currently in the rotation, so adding Valdez will give them another one. The former Houston Astros pitcher has been healthy over the last four seasons, throwing at least 175 innings and posting an ERA under 3.70 in each. Valdez had 187 strikeouts in 192 innings last season, but he struggled with keeping the ball in the strike zone. He walked a career-high 68 batters and threw a career-high 12 wild pitches.
Despite these struggles, he set a career low in home run to flyball ratio (12.3 percent). Valdez would be an improvement over Kremer and Eflin. Plus, it'd give the Orioles another left-hander to utilize. If the Orioles want to return to the postseason and contend in a formidable AL East, a starting rotation boost needs to be made.