Orioles Watch as Rangers Land MacKenzie Gore, Trade Market Thins
While teams across Major League Baseball continue to load up on starting pitching, the Orioles have remained quiet - and the window to make a move may be closing fast.
The latest domino to fall came when the Texas Rangers swung a deal for Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, sending a five-prospect package to Washington. Gore, 26, was an All-Star for the first time last season, putting together a stellar first half with a 3.02 ERA before injuries slowed him down late. He brings big-time velocity, swing-and-miss stuff, and a bit of a walk problem - a high-upside, high-risk arm with two more years of team control.
Gore had been on the block all offseason, and there were rumblings that the Orioles might’ve been in the mix. But if they were, they didn’t go all-in.
The Rangers did, shipping out five of their top 18 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. That’s a steep price, and one that may have been too rich for Baltimore’s front office, especially after they already dipped into the farm system to land Shane Baz in December.
Baz, like Gore, is a 26-year-old with electric stuff and team control, and the Orioles paid a notable price to get him. That deal came out of nowhere - no rumors, no buildup - just a surprise splash. So while Gore heading to Texas might feel like a missed opportunity, it’s worth remembering that GM Mike Elias has a habit of working quietly before striking.
Still, with Gore and Freddy Peralta (traded to the Mets a day earlier) now off the board, the list of available frontline starters is getting short. If the Orioles were hoping to upgrade the rotation via trade, the options are thinning out - and quickly.
Could Elias and company still have something up their sleeve? Absolutely.
As we saw with Baz, the Orioles don’t always telegraph their moves. But if they plan to bolster the rotation before spring training, time - and the market - is running out.
For a fan base that’s been expecting an aggressive push following the Pete Alonso signing, standing pat would be a letdown. The team has the talent to contend, but adding another proven arm could be the difference between a good season and a great one.
Quick Hits from Around Birdland
- Orioles Claim Weston Wilson: Baltimore added another outfielder to the mix, snagging Weston Wilson off waivers. He’s likely headed to Triple-A, but it’s another depth move in a busy offseason of smaller transactions.
- **Baz vs. Grayson Rodriguez?
**: A recent mailbag piece posed an interesting question - are the Orioles better off with Shane Baz than Grayson Rodriguez? It’s a fair comparison.
Both are young right-handers with big ceilings. But Baz has already returned from injury and logged a full season, something Rodriguez has yet to do.
That matters.
- Birdland Caravan Weather Update: Saturday’s events have been canceled due to an incoming snowstorm. It’s a tough break for fans hoping to connect with players, especially with events like bowling with Adley Rutschman on the schedule. Safety comes first, but it’s still a bummer.
This Day in Orioles History
- Happy birthday to a few former Orioles: Cord Phelps (39), Marty Brown (63), Charlie Greene (55), Sherman Obando (56), and the late Chico Carrasquel, a four-time All-Star with the White Sox before joining Baltimore.
- Jan. 23 has been a rollercoaster day for Dan Ford - the Orioles signed him in 1984 and released him exactly two years later.
- In 2010, the Orioles brought back Miguel Tejada on a one-year, $6 million deal. His first stint in Baltimore was memorable - including a franchise-record 150 RBIs in 2004 - but his second go-round didn’t hit the same. Tejada moved to third base, struggled at the plate (.670 OPS, 7 HR in 97 games), and was dealt to the Padres by the trade deadline.
The Orioles’ offseason has already featured some intriguing moves, but with the pitching market tightening up, the next few weeks could be telling. Will they make one more splash, or is this the rotation they’re taking into spring? Stay tuned.