The Orioles are making it clear: they’re not content sitting on the sidelines this offseason. After a disappointing last-place finish in 2025, Baltimore is aggressively hunting for rotation help-and their latest target might just be one of the most decorated arms in baseball history.
Sources say the Orioles are among the teams showing interest in veteran right-hander Justin Verlander. While nothing appears imminent, and Verlander’s broader market remains a bit of a mystery, the connection is intriguing for a number of reasons-both on and off the field.
Let’s start with the performance. Verlander, who turns 43 in February, isn’t the same overpowering ace he was in his prime, but he showed in 2025 that he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
After a sluggish start with the San Francisco Giants, the future Hall of Famer found his rhythm in the second half and finished the season with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 137 strikeouts over 29 starts. That’s a strong bounce-back from a rough 2024 campaign in Houston and a clear sign that he can still handle a full workload and contribute meaningfully every fifth day.
Baltimore’s front office has already made some moves to bolster the rotation, trading for Shane Baz and re-signing veteran Zach Eflin. But it’s evident they’re not done.
The club is aiming higher, reportedly in pursuit of lefty Framber Valdez-arguably the top remaining starter on the market. The catch?
Valdez declined a qualifying offer from the Astros, which means signing him would cost the Orioles a compensatory draft pick. That’s a significant price for a team trying to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability.
Which brings us back to Verlander. In a market where many of the top arms are either tied to draft-pick compensation or require giving up premium prospects in a trade, Verlander represents a different kind of opportunity. A short-term deal for a pitcher with his pedigree-three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, over 3,500 strikeouts, and nearly 3,600 innings under his belt-could be a smart, low-risk play for a team that needs stability and leadership in the back half of the rotation.
And let’s not overlook the personal connection. Verlander grew up in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, just a few hours from Camden Yards.
He also has a history with Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who was part of the Astros’ front office when Houston acquired Verlander in 2017-just in time for a World Series run. That familiarity could help grease the wheels if talks progress.
At this stage of his career, Verlander isn’t expected to carry a staff. But if he can replicate his 2025 form, he’d bring a battle-tested presence to a young Orioles team looking to reestablish itself in the AL East.
His resume speaks for itself: 266 career wins, 555 starts, five strikeout titles, two ERA crowns, and a 300-strikeout season as recently as 2019. He’s the game’s active leader in virtually every major pitching category, and he’s still showing he can compete.
For Baltimore, the question is less about what Verlander was and more about what he can still be: a steady, experienced arm who knows what it takes to win-and who might just have one more postseason run left in him.