The Baltimore Orioles aren’t sitting still this offseason - and after the way 2025 ended, they really couldn’t afford to.
Their splashiest move so far? Landing slugger Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million deal.
That’s a statement signing, no question. But the Orioles know that fixing the lineup alone won’t be enough.
The real issue last season was on the mound - specifically, a lack of dependable arms in the starting rotation. And it looks like Baltimore’s front office is still working to address that.
According to reports, the Orioles are actively looking to add another starter before the offseason wraps up. One name drawing attention: Justin Verlander.
Yes, that Justin Verlander - the nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young winner, and future Hall of Famer who, at 42, is still drawing interest from contenders. Baltimore is reportedly among the teams in the mix, and there are a few reasons why this pairing makes some sense.
For one, there’s familiarity. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias knows Verlander from their time together in Houston back in 2017 and 2018.
That connection could be a factor in negotiations, especially with Verlander heading into what might be his final MLB season. There’s also the local angle - Verlander is a Virginia native, and a return to the East Coast could be appealing at this stage of his career.
Now, let’s talk numbers. Verlander’s 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants didn’t exactly jump off the page in terms of wins and losses - he went 4-11 - but that record doesn’t tell the full story.
He made 29 starts, covered 152 innings, posted a 3.85 ERA, and struck out 137 batters. That added up to 1.2 bWAR.
Not vintage Verlander, but still solid production from a veteran arm.
Still, it’s important to note that Verlander isn’t Baltimore’s top target. That honor belongs to Framber Valdez, another former Astro who’s five years younger and still in his prime. Valdez is arguably the best starting pitcher left on the free agent market, and the Orioles are reportedly prioritizing him over Verlander at this point.
And you can understand why. Over the past five seasons, Valdez has been one of the most consistent and durable starters in the game.
He’s racked up 17.3 bWAR, gone 68-41 in 143 starts, and logged over 900 innings with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.173 WHIP. Those are frontline numbers, and he fits the mold of a true rotation anchor - something the Orioles lacked last year.
Baltimore’s recent experience with aging pitchers might also be shaping their approach. Their attempt to squeeze one more season out of 41-year-old Charlie Morton in 2025 didn’t go as planned. That gamble didn’t pay off, and it’s likely influencing how they weigh the risk-reward of going after another 40-something arm like Verlander.
So, where does that leave things? The Orioles are clearly aiming high.
They want to build a rotation that can match the firepower of their lineup and carry them deep into October. Valdez is the ideal fit, but if that doesn’t materialize, Verlander could be a strong fallback - especially if the price and role are right.
Either way, it’s clear Baltimore isn’t content with just making a splash. They’re trying to build something sustainable. And after the disappointment of last season, that’s exactly what this team - and its fans - need to see.