The Baltimore Orioles aren’t sitting back this offseason - not after a 2025 campaign that fell well short of expectations. With their young core still intact and the AL East only getting tougher, the front office is making aggressive moves to bolster the roster, and the message is clear: the time to win is now.
Headlining their winter activity is the blockbuster five-year, $155 million deal for slugger Pete Alonso. It’s a bold swing - and one that speaks volumes about the Orioles’ intent to add both power and postseason experience to a lineup that already features some of the most exciting young talent in baseball.
But the real question mark from last season wasn’t the bats. It was the rotation.
Baltimore’s lack of starting pitching depth was a glaring issue throughout 2025. Injuries, inconsistency, and a few high-risk bets that didn’t pay off left the staff stretched thin - and exposed in key moments.
Now, with spring training around the corner, the Orioles are looking to solidify the top of their rotation. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, that search could lead them to one of the most decorated arms of this generation: Justin Verlander.
Yes, that Justin Verlander.
The 42-year-old right-hander, a three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer, is drawing interest from multiple teams - and Baltimore is reportedly in the mix. Verlander is coming off a solid campaign with the San Francisco Giants, where he posted a 3.85 ERA over 152 innings and struck out 137 batters across 29 starts. While his 4-11 record doesn’t jump off the page, the underlying numbers paint a different picture: Verlander still knows how to pitch, even if the win-loss column didn’t reflect it.
There’s also a personal connection here that adds intrigue. Verlander, a Virginia native, has history with Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias from their time together in Houston during the Astros’ 2017 and 2018 seasons. That relationship could be a factor as the Orioles explore their options for adding a veteran presence to the rotation.
But let’s be clear - while there’s mutual interest, Verlander isn’t Baltimore’s top target. According to Rosenthal, the Orioles are aiming higher. Their primary focus is left-hander Framber Valdez, another former Astro and arguably the best starting pitcher still on the market.
Valdez, 32, brings both durability and dominance. Over the past five seasons, he’s compiled a 68-41 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.173 WHIP, and 902.1 innings pitched.
His 17.3 bWAR during that stretch underscores just how valuable he’s been - and why he’s such a coveted free agent. For a team like the Orioles, who are looking for a legitimate front-line starter to pair with their emerging arms, Valdez checks just about every box.
It’s also worth noting that Baltimore has reason to be cautious when it comes to veteran pitchers. Last offseason, they rolled the dice on 41-year-old Charlie Morton for what was expected to be his final MLB season.
That move didn’t pan out, and the Orioles paid the price. So while Verlander brings experience and pedigree, the front office is understandably prioritizing a younger, more reliable option like Valdez.
Still, the fact that Baltimore is even in the conversation for a pitcher like Verlander tells us a lot about where this team is headed. They’re not just trying to make the playoffs - they’re trying to build a rotation that can win in October. Whether that means landing a top-tier lefty like Valdez or adding a seasoned ace like Verlander to mentor their young staff, the Orioles are clearly pushing all the right buttons this winter.
And after a 2025 season that left fans wanting more, that’s exactly what they needed to do.