The Baltimore Orioles are one of the many teams around baseball looking to make a splash this winter. While others are eyeing players like Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber, the Orioles are looking to the starting rotation.
While they hold interest in those superstar position players, adding another starter is a priority for the Orioles this winter. While they could look to add a cheaper talent, the Orioles and Mike Elias are interested in the top names on the market.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Orioles are not just interested in former Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez, but after he visited with the Orioles' top brass, a deal is worth paying close attention to at the MLB Winter Meetings.
Orioles interested in Astros' Framber Valdez after previous meeting in early offseason
"Free agent Framber Valdez met with San Francisco Giants officials at the GM Meetings last month, in addition to the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles," Morosi reports.
With strong enough interest to meet with Valdez early into the offseason, the MLB Winter Meetings - a time for contract and trade talks to ramp up - could provide a springboard for a free agent deal.
Baltimore isn't the only team interested in the former Astros ace, as the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants are both interested in Valdez.
More: Orioles 'perfect' free agent match is a 3.66 ERA lefty ace from AL West
But, with the Giants potentially being apprehensive about spending $100 million-plus on a starting pitcher, and the Mets looking to other positions of need, the Orioles might be the favorites to land Valdez this winter.
Ranger Suarez, a former Philadelphia Phillies starter, is also strongly linked to the Orioles this winter. Between the Suarez and Valdez interest, the chances of the Orioles landing one of the top remaining starters on the market look good.
Valdez is coming off a 3.66 ERA season in 2025, and while it's not as good as his average season, the two-time All-Star is still more than worth spending some big money on this winter.
With the Winter Meetings beginning in the second week of December, fans of the Orioles should keep a close eye on free agent rumors, especially surrounding Valdez.
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