Kyle Tucker finally choosing a team didn’t just bring an end to the offseason’s loudest bidding war - it might’ve just done the Baltimore Orioles a huge favor.
With Tucker landing a four-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the last true middle-of-the-order bat is off the board. And that changes the dynamic across the league.
Front offices that were juggling big bat negotiations and pitching plans? That juggling act is over.
Now, the focus shifts squarely to arms - and that’s where things get interesting for Baltimore.
Because if there’s one thing the Orioles have made clear this winter, it’s that they know they’re close. Really close. But also still one frontline starter away from being the kind of October threat that keeps opposing managers up at night.
The Dodgers’ splashy move for Tucker might have quietly cleared the runway for the Orioles to make theirs.
So far, Baltimore’s offseason has checked a lot of the right boxes. They’ve added muscle with the headline signing of Pete Alonso - a legit power threat who brings postseason experience and presence to the lineup.
They’ve also bolstered the rotation with a move for Shane Baz, and kept the pitching depth intact by retaining Zach Eflin. That’s the type of winter that says, *we’re not just trying to be good - we’re trying to win the AL East.
But in this division, “almost enough” doesn’t cut it. Not when you’re staring down the Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays every week.
If you want to be a real October team, you need a guy who can take the ball in Game 1 and tilt the field in your favor. That’s what separates teams that make the playoffs from teams that make noise in the playoffs.
Now, there’s a flip side to this. With Tucker off the board, teams that were still chasing offense are now going to pivot hard toward pitching.
That means more competition. More bidding.
And potentially, higher prices. But it also means the market for starters is finally going to move.
No more waiting around under the excuse of “we’re still seeing how the hitter market plays out.” That part’s over.
It’s go time.
And for Baltimore, that’s a good thing - if they’re ready to act.
They’ve been linked to legitimate names, including Framber Valdez - a true top-of-the-rotation type who fits the mold of what this team needs. But there’s always that lingering question: Are they really ready to pay for an ace, or just trying to look like they tried?
That’s been the vibe all winter. A team that’s hovering on the edge of something big, but still needs to make that one move that signals they’re all-in.
Now’s the moment to make it.
With the big bats spoken for, the market pressure is shifting. The Orioles have a clear path to go get the kind of arm that can lead a playoff rotation. And if they’re serious about making the Yankees - and everyone else - sweat come October, the next move can’t just be another “solid addition.”
It has to be the move. The one that tells the clubhouse this isn’t about hoping to make the postseason - it’s about planning to win it.