The Orioles made some noise this offseason-and not just with the bat. Yes, they added Pete Alonso, one of the biggest power threats in the game, and locked down the ninth inning with Ryan Helsley.
Taylor Ward gives them another solid corner outfield bat. But as spring training looms, one big question still hangs over Baltimore’s revamped roster: is the starting rotation good enough to win the American League East?
That’s no small question in a division that’s become an arms race-literally. The Blue Jays, fresh off a World Series appearance, went out and landed Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million deal.
He’ll slot in alongside Kevin Gausman and breakout postseason star Trey Yesavage, giving Toronto a top three that’s as formidable as any in baseball. Boston didn’t sit still either, throwing serious money at Ranger Suárez (five years, $130 million) and swinging a deal for Sonny Gray to bolster a rotation already featuring Garrett Crochet.
Even the Yankees-who mostly opted for continuity-are set to get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón back from injury, joining Max Fried and rising fireballer Cam Schlittler.
So where does that leave the Orioles?
Baltimore didn’t land a headline-grabbing ace. Framber Valdez is in Detroit.
Cease and Suárez went to division rivals. Instead, the Orioles did what they’ve done in recent years: piece together a rotation with calculated trades and short-term deals.
Shane Baz came over from Tampa Bay. Chris Bassitt signed a one-year, $18.5 million deal.
Zach Eflin is back on a $10 million pact after undergoing back surgery last August.
Not exactly blockbuster moves-but maybe that’s beside the point.
Manager Craig Albernaz says he “likes his guys.” Trevor Rogers calls the group “scary.”
And Bassitt? He’s talking World Series.
Is that just spring optimism, or is there something to it?
Start with the top. Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers give the Orioles a legitimate 1-2 punch.
Bradish finished fourth in the 2023 Cy Young voting and owns a 2.44 ERA across 44 starts over the past three seasons. When he’s right, he’s a problem.
Rogers, meanwhile, looked like one of the best pitchers in baseball after returning from injury last May, posting a 1.81 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP over 18 starts. That’s not just good-that’s ace-level dominance.
Behind them, the depth is intriguing-and that’s a big step forward for a team that’s struggled to fill out the back end of the rotation in recent years. Shane Baz has the stuff to be a frontline starter, and Albernaz hasn’t been shy about saying he sees “Cy Young” potential in the 24-year-old.
Bassitt brings veteran savvy and durability-he just logged innings in the World Series. Eflin was quietly excellent after the 2024 trade deadline before his back gave out.
And Dean Kremer, likely the sixth man in the mix, is a reliable back-end option who can eat innings and keep games competitive.
So, no, the Orioles don’t have a $200 million ace headlining the rotation. But they might not need one.
If Bradish and Rogers stay healthy-and that’s a big “if,” given recent history-the top of the rotation can hang with anyone. Baz is a wild card with high upside.
Bassitt and Eflin bring experience and stability. And Kremer gives them depth most teams would love to have in the sixth spot.
In a division where every game feels like a playoff matchup, the margin for error is razor-thin. But Baltimore’s rotation might be better equipped for the grind than it’s getting credit for.
The bats are there. The bullpen looks solid. And if this rotation clicks, the Orioles might just have the pieces to make a serious run-not just at the division, but at something bigger.