The Baltimore Orioles aren’t done yet.
After locking in Zach Eflin to help shore up the rotation, it looked-at least briefly-like the O’s might be tapping the brakes. But that’s not the case.
Baltimore is still in the market for starting pitching help, and they’re casting a wide net. Despite already parting with a significant haul of prospects in the Shane Baz deal, the Orioles are still active in both the trade and free-agent markets.
Framber Valdez remains a name to watch, though the club missed out on Ranger Suárez. And now, a new name has entered the conversation-one that carries both weight and question marks: Justin Verlander.
Yes, that Justin Verlander.
The Orioles are reportedly among the teams checking in on the three-time Cy Young winner, although there’s no indication a deal is close. At this stage, it looks more like due diligence than a full-court press. Still, it’s a notable development for a team that’s clearly weighing multiple paths to bolster its rotation.
Let’s talk about what Verlander brings to the table-and what he doesn’t.
After a rough and injury-riddled 2024 campaign in Houston, where he posted a 5.48 ERA over just 90.1 innings, Verlander bounced back last season with the Giants. He threw 152 innings and turned in a 3.85 ERA-not elite, but certainly respectable for a pitcher entering his age-43 season. He’s no longer overpowering hitters with high-90s heat, but he’s still got the savvy and sequencing to get outs.
There’s also a connection worth noting: Orioles GM Mike Elias and Verlander overlapped during their time in Houston. Whether that relationship moves the needle remains to be seen, but it’s a thread that could factor into discussions.
That said, this move would raise eyebrows-not necessarily because Verlander can't help a team, but because of what it might signal about Baltimore’s broader strategy. Right now, the Orioles are a team with legitimate World Series aspirations. They’ve made aggressive moves already-trading for Taylor Ward, signing Pete Alonso-and those are the kinds of win-now moves that suggest a team ready to go all-in.
Verlander, at this point in his career, doesn’t exactly scream “all-in.” He’s more of a back-end rotation piece, a veteran presence who can eat innings and provide leadership, but not someone who’s likely to anchor a postseason rotation.
And Baltimore already has depth starters. What they need is another frontline arm to pair with Eflin and Baz-someone like Valdez, or trade targets like Freddy Peralta or Joe Ryan.
If Verlander ends up being the fallback plan, it could be a sign that Baltimore is hesitant to push further chips into the middle of the table. Signing a pitcher like Valdez, who rejected a qualifying offer, would cost a draft pick.
Trading for another top-tier starter would likely require dipping into an already-thinned farm system. If the Orioles pivot to Verlander instead, it might suggest they’re more comfortable hedging than going all-out.
That’s the risk here-not Verlander himself, but what his signing would represent. If the Orioles pass on more impactful arms and settle for an aging veteran with diminishing upside, it could undercut the momentum they’ve built this offseason. For a fanbase hungry for October glory, that would be a tough pill to swallow.
Baltimore’s front office has shown it can be both bold and patient. The next move will tell us which side of that coin they’re leaning toward now.