The Baltimore Orioles signed former starter Zach Eflin to a one-year, $10 million free agent contract. Between his addition and the Sahne Baz trade, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Orioles stopped adding to their rotation this offseason.
But, will they stop adding, or at least exploring potential contracts/trades this winter? According to a new report, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Jake Rill of MLB.com reveals that, despite the big $10 million investment into Eflin and the trade package sent to the Tampa Bay Rays for Baz, the Orioles are still interested in the top starters available this winter.
Orioles' $10 million Zach Eflin decision not stopping interest in top SP
"Is this the end of the Orioles' pursuit of starting pitching? Possibly not," Rill writes. "President of baseball operations Mike Elias has made it known he'd be shopping in the upper tiers of the free agent pitching market."
Baltimore has been linked to starters like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez before, but what about now, after their Baz and Eflin moves? As Rill points out, the Orioles are still interested in the top pitchers on the market.
Baltimore might not be done adding to their rotation this winter. While they aren't nearly as desperate as they once were at the beginning of the offseason, they are looking to make some more moves to strengthen the rotation.
More: Orioles 'perfect' free agent match is a 3.66 ERA lefty ace from AL West
Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Baz, Eflin, Dean Kramer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich, Brandon Young, and Albert Suarez make up a strong rotation.
The Orioles don't lack rotation depth, but what they might lack is top-end pitching talent. Rogers and Bradish are great, but another lefty starter who can act as a top-tier arm would be ideal.
Suarez, the former Philadelphia Phillies starter, and Valdez, the former Houston Astros starter, make the most sense for Baltimore this winter if they're willing to spend on another starter this winter.
What Elias and company do the rest of the offseason will be very interesting, as a few different moves could be on the horizon for Baltimore this winter.
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