The Baltimore Orioles made the biggest splash at baseball’s winter meetings by signing slugger Pete Alonso for five years and $155 million.
With an already good lineup beefed up, it is time to focus attention to the team’s most glaring need of quality pitching. The starter with the best track record among remaining free agents is left-hander Framber Valdez.
HOUSTON: Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros pitches against the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on Oct. 13, 2022. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Getty Images
“We do have (payroll) room for moves, multiple moves,” President of Operations Mike Elias told Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com earlier this week. “That’s a possibility that we add multiple starting pitchers on major league contracts, but there’s a possibility it’s just going to be one. It’s going to depend on the personnel.”
Valdez turned down a $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Houston Astros. He’s seeking more than that per season and likely wants a deal stretching over five or six years. The market value was set when Dylan Cease got a seven-year, $210 million deal from the Toronto Blue Jays on December 2.
Right-handers Cease and Michael King of the San Diego Padres and lefty Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies also turned down $22.025 million offers.
Here’s a comparison of the four top starters who were available when 2025 free agency began. Their average numbers over the past five seasons are rounded off:
- Cease, 29, has a 56-47 record and 3.72 ERA in 162 starts since the start of 2021. He has averaged 177 innings pitched, 145 hits and 72 walks allowed, and 221 strikeouts a season over that time.
- Valdez, 32, has gone 68-41 with a 3.20 ERA in 143 starts since 2021. He has averaged 180 innings, 150 hits and 61 walks allowed and 175 strikeouts a season.
- Suarez, 30, has a 46-34 record, 3.23 ERA in 143 games including 116 starts since 2021. His averages: 130 strikeouts, 44 walks and 129 hits allowed over 139 innings
- King, 30, has a 30-29 record, 2.99 ERA in 151 games including 60 starts since 2021. His averages: 106 strikeouts, 32 walks and 77 hits allowed over 93 innings. He missed time with a right shoulder nerve impingement and left knee inflammation this past season.
Stockpiling Young Arms
The Orioles are well aware that they need pitching. Their team ERA of 4.60 ranked 13th in the American League and 26th in MLB in 2025.
Former all-star closer Felix Bautista is likely out for the entire 2026 season after surgery. Gone through trades or free agency are starters Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano and relievers Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez, Bryan Baker and Albert Suarez.
There’s room to add to the rotation and bullpen, The Orioles already have significantly replenished the farm system. They have added 41 pitchers since July.
ST LOUIS: Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Thus far, it has been youthful quantity over veteran quality in their arms buildup. Only incoming relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge are currently forecast to open the 2026 season on the MLB roster.
Helsley, 31, got a two-year, $28 million deal to be the closer. Kittredge was purchased back from the Chicago Cubs on November 4. He’s expected to reclaim the middle relief role he had in 2025 before being dealt at the trading deadline.
Baltimore selected 13 pitchers among its’ 20 picks in the 2024 MLB Draft. They signed lefty Joseph Dzierwa for $1,497,500 out of Michigan State and righty JT Quinn from Georgia for $1,147,500. Both were second-round picks at Nos. 58 and 69, respectively.
At the trade deadline, the Orioles added three left-handers and nine right-handers. Since then, they have claimed on waivers or signed 11 right-handers and five lefties.
ERIE, PA: Andrew Magno of the Erie SeaWolves pitches against the Somerset Patriots at UPMC Park on July 24, 2025. (Photo by Marc Cardillo/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Minor League Baseball via Getty Images
There are a lot of names on the list unfamiliar to fans such as left-hander Andrew Magno. The 27-year-old had an 8-1 record, 2.31 ERA and 4 saves in relief for the Detroit Tigers’ Double-A team in Erie. He was a steady performer for six years in the Detroit organization.
Proving they are leaving no long-shot stone unturned, the Orioles even signed 32-year-old lefty Jean Carlos Henriquez on November 3. He had not pitched in pro ball since 2015 in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system. Orioles scouts saw him in the Dominican Winter League, where he has a 1.33 ERA in 12 relief outings, walking 2 and fanning 22.
Proven Pitching Plans
Pitching helped Baltimore accumulate the best record in the game from 1960 through 1985 with 2,374 wins and 1,749 losses. Over those 26 years, their only losing seasons were in 1962 and 1967.
NEW YORK: The Baltimore Orioles’ rotation of all 20-game winners, left to right are Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Pat Dobson and Mike Cuellar at Yankee Stadium in 1971.
Bettmann Archive
From 1963 until 1984, Orioles pitchers won 20 or more in a season 24 times. Since then, zilch. In 1971, the entire rotation won 20 or more. Here are the 20-game winners:
Jim Palmer: 1970 (20-10), 1971 (20-9), 1972 (21-10), 1973 (22-9), 1975 (23-11) 1976 (22-13), 1977 (20-11), 1978 (21-12).
Dave McNally: 1968 (22-10), 1969 (20-7), 1970 (24-9), 1971 (21-5).
Mike Cuellar: 1969 (23-11), 1970 (24-8), 1971 (20-9), 1974 (22-10).
Steve Barber: 1963 (20-13); Pat Dobson: 1971 (20-8); Wayne Garland: 1976 (20-7); Mike Torrez: 1977 (20-9); Mike Flanagan: 1979 (23-9); Steve Stone: 1980 (25-7); Scott McGregor: 1980 (20-8); Mike Boddicker: 1984 (20-11).
Baltimore Orioles in 2026
Signing Alonso shows the Orioles mean business in 2026 after crashing to a 75-87 record in 2025.
BALTIMORE: Orioles owner David Rubenstein, president of baseball operations Mike Elias and agent Scott Boras introduce new first baseman Pete Alonso at a news conference on Dec. 12, 2025. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
TNS
The Orioles won the rugged AL East in 2023 with a 101-61 record and finished second in 2024 at 91-61. The offensive nucleus of those teams remains pretty much intact, bolstered by the recent additions of Alonso and outfielders Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras.
To top it off, Elias will have to make perfect pitches to pitchers he believes can make the team a complete ballclub in 2026. Even then, it will be a daunting task in a division that includes the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays, always powerful New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox and annual analytical achiever Tampa Bay Rays.
To do it, a few of those 41 pitching additions probably will have to make surprising contributions to put the Baltimore Orioles back on top.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckmurr/2025/12/13/will-baltimore-orioles-add-framber-valdez-to-pete-alonso–company/
