The offseason is not over yet.
While most of this winter’s top free agent starters have already found new homes, the Orioles still have just under three months to bolster their rotation before opening day. They’ve already signed two veteran free agents in Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton to one-year deals, but neither fills the void Corbin Burnes left behind when he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Burnes proved to be the ace the Orioles acquired him to be, giving them a true No. 1 starter atop their rotation for the second straight year after Kyle Bradish assumed that title in 2023. However, Burnes’ time in Baltimore is up after one season and Bradish is working his way back from Tommy John elbow surgery, leaving the Orioles without an ace to lead their pitching staff.
Here are four trade targets that could fill that role if made available:
Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners
The Orioles and Mariners have been frequently connected as potential trade partners this offseason. Baltimore needs pitching and the offense-starved Mariners have plenty to spare, especially in their rotation where three of their starters have garnered Cy Young Award votes over the past two seasons. One of those hurlers is Castillo, a three-time All-Star who has three years and $72.45 million left on his contract with a $25 million vesting option for 2028.
Castillo, 32, holds a full no-trade clause and the Orioles might have to part ways with MLB-ready talent, as opposed to prospects, to pry him from Seattle. The right-hander would come with some risk; Castillo’s fastball velocity has dipped each of the past two years and he has outperformed his expected statistics, suggesting he could be due for some regression.
Even so, he would represent a significant rotation upgrade on paper. Castillo ranks fourth in the majors with 1,068 strikeouts since 2019, trailing only Gerrit Cole, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. He’s impressed with a 1.83 ERA in three playoff starts and has shown durability making 30 starts in five of his past six full seasons. The Orioles’ rotation lacks pitchers on long-term contracts, making him a snug roster fit if all three sides, Castillo included, can work out a deal.
Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres
If the Orioles are willing to go the one-and-done route again, Cease has some of the highest upside of any pitcher still on the trade market. The 29-year-old has placed among the top four in Cy Young voting two of the past three years, leading all pitchers with 665 strikeouts over that span. The Padres, like the Mariners, want to remain competitive after winning 93 games last year, suggesting that San Diego would also target major league talent in return.
Baltimore can’t continue to sacrifice young, controllable contracts for one-year rentals like it did in trading for Burnes, at least if executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias wants to oversee a sustainable contender, but Cease would immediately be one of the best pitchers in the American League East if the Orioles could acquire him.
While Burnes was intent on reaching free agency — and perhaps intent on returning to his home area in Arizona — Cease could be a candidate for a sign-and-trade if the Orioles are willing to pay a market price. Morton, Sugano and Zach Eflin are all entering their walk years, leaving the Orioles with plenty of long-term payroll space to invest in their rotation if they choose to use it.
Sonny Gray, St. Louis Cardinals
His 3.84 ERA from last season might not jump off the page, but Gray quietly had another strong campaign in his first year with the Cardinals. The veteran right-hander was the AL Cy Young runner-up with the Minnesota Twins in 2023 and, after beginning this past season on the injured list with a hamstring strain, he followed that up with 203 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP — both of which were his best totals in five years.
Gray will make $60 million over the next two years with a $30 million team option for 2027 that can be voided if he opts out. He’s the oldest player on this list at 35 years old but has yet to show any signs of slowing down. The biggest question surrounding his availability is whether the Cardinals would be willing to part ways with him.
St. Louis has actively shopped third baseman Nolan Arenado to no avail this offseason, trying to cut payroll in what its front office has called a “reset.” Arenado holds a no-trade clause and, should a deal fail to materialize, Gray might be their next best option for clearing significant money off the books despite only being one year into his contract.
Pablo López, Minnesota Twins
From a baseball perspective, trading López doesn’t make much sense for the Twins. Minnesota spent most of last season in playoff position before a horrific September cost them a chance to play in October. López, while not at his most dominant form posting a 4.08 ERA, still put together a strong year with a career-best 5.3% walk rate and 198 strikeouts.
Yet the baseball perspective isn’t the leading motivator in Minnesota right now. Despite president of baseball operations Derek Falvey downplaying the possibility of moving López, the ballclub is currently for sale and their payroll is being squeezed as a result. That could provide a prime opportunity for the Orioles, who have touted more financial flexibility under first-year owner David Rubenstein.
López is still only 28 years old and he’s shaken off the injury-prone label that followed him early in his career by turning in three straight seasons with 32 starts. He’s also been spectacular in the playoffs when called upon (1.53 ERA in three starts) and has a strong reputation for his clubhouse presence. If the price is right, López would be a strong fit in Baltimore.
Around the horn
• The Orioles announced a key hire to their business operations Monday, naming Don Rovak their new chief revenue officer to replace the departed T.J. Brightman. Rovak spent the last 17 years with AMB Sports and Entertainment, an ownership group that owns the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, among other properties.
• Last month, Baltimore also announced the hire of new athletic trainer Scott Barringer, who had been with the Milwaukee Brewers since 2019. Barringer replaced Brian Ebel, the Orioles’ trainer for the past seven seasons and a member of their organization for 40 years.
Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich.
