The Orioles’ rotation never really found its footing in 2026, and that kind of instability has a way of hanging over an entire season. Baltimore’s starters never posted a single month with an ERA under 4.00, one of just four clubs in MLB to miss that mark all year. Brandon Young was the lone exception in one narrow sense: he’s the only pitcher on the staff who hasn’t logged a month with four or more starts and an ERA over 4.00.
If the Orioles want a steadier 2027, the answer starts on the mound. Shane Baz and Kyle Bradish already have long-term extensions, and Young won’t reach free agency until 2032. Trevor Rogers is set to hit free agency after the season, though it would be surprising if Baltimore didn’t do everything it could to keep him after his breakout with the club.
That still leaves room for another arm, and Chris Bassitt also is headed for free agency. Re-signing him would appear unlikely. So the front office could be looking at a mix of free agents and trade targets this offseason to give the rotation a real backbone.
Sonny Gray fits the bill as a veteran stabilizer. The 36-year-old has a mutual option with the Red Sox that seems unlikely to be exercised, which would send him into free agency in search of what could be his final major deal for his age-37 season and beyond. Gray has shown he can still shoulder a heavy workload late in his career, and his game is built more on spin and command than velocity, a profile that suggests his effectiveness can hold up.
Baltimore needs exactly that kind of presence: someone who takes the ball every turn and gives five or six solid innings. Gray has flashed ace-level stretches in Boston this year, and even if he settles in as more of a mid-3s ERA starter, that would still mean a lot to the Orioles. A two- or three-year commitment with a hefty average annual value would be the price of doing business, but he could steady the entire staff.
George Kirby would bring a different kind of impact. The 28-year-old right-hander hasn’t delivered the bounce-back season he and the Mariners hoped for in 2026, but his track record still points to a top-of-the-rotation arm with workhorse traits and a top-ten Cy Young finish already on his résumé. He’s also under team control for two more seasons after 2026, and he’ll spend all of 2027 at age 29.
Landing Kirby would require Baltimore to part with a significant prospect package, but the Orioles rebuilt their farm system at the deadline, so that cost may be easier to absorb than it once was. If Kirby gets back to the form he showed in 2023 and 2024, he could give Baltimore the kind of starter who changes the look of the whole rotation.
Clay Holmes is the other name that jumps out. Since moving from the bullpen to the rotation after signing with the Mets last season, he has been one of the best starters in baseball. His 2.09 ERA ranks eighth among all starters since the start of 2025, and that kind of production could push Baltimore in a different direction entirely.
Holmes has a player option he is almost certain to decline in order to reach free agency this offseason. He’ll turn 34 at the start of the 2027 season, so a long-term deal with a high AAV figures to be part of the conversation. If the Orioles are serious about reinforcing the rotation, making a run at Holmes should be near the top of the list.
In Other News...
Orioles Win Came With Another Injury Scare They Couldnt Afford
The Orioles finally had a win worth clinging to, but it came with the kind of midgame damage this roster can barely absorb anymore. Brandon Young, still clearly frustrated after the loss in which Baltimore surrendered eight runs in the third inning, was part of a night that underscored how quickly the game can tilt when the pitching and defense get stretched thin and the lineup keeps changing around injuries.
Gunnar Henderson left with an injury during the game, adding another tense moment to a team already juggling absences for Luis Robert Jr., Tyler ONeill and Samuel Basallo. Baltimore was forced into unusual defensive adjustments because of who was available, and even in a victory there was a lingering sense that the Orioles are one more setback away from having the roster depth problem become the story. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans May Keep Coming Back To Pete Alonsos Costly Mistake
Pete Alonso has been one of the Orioles most productive bats this season, which is why his defense on Sept. 8 in Cleveland stood out so sharply. In a game that mattered in the middle of a tight stretch, a throwing error from Alonso helped open the door for the Guardians to pull ahead in the inning, a mistake that felt especially costly for a Baltimore club trying to find its footing down the stretch.
The Orioles have struggled through September and now find themselves chasing in the Wild Card race, with their playoff path looking increasingly uncertain. For a team that has leaned on Alonsos offense, the margin for error keeps shrinking, and plays like that one can linger because they come at a time when Baltimore can least afford to give anything away. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Suddenly Have A Lineup Concern They Cant Ignore
The Orioles lineup has started to feel a little thinner in a hurry, with Blaze Alexander landing on the 10-day injured list because of low back discomfort and Jeremiah Jackson back on the roster in his place. Alexander has been one of Baltimores steadier pieces this season, hitting .303/.358/.414 across 93 games and giving the club useful flexibility around the infield and outfield.
The concern grows because Gunnar Henderson is also dealing with left knee discomfort and is out of the lineup, forcing more shuffling than the Orioles would prefer at this point in the season. Jackson Holliday and Jeremiah Jackson are adjusting positions as Baltimore tries to keep the order intact, but for a team that has leaned on its depth all year, this is the kind of stretch that can test it fast. [Read more 🡒]