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While it came to a disappointing end, the 2023 season was a massive success for the Baltimore Orioles. This team won 101 games after being picked by many to miss the playoffs. However, if the Orioles wish to improve upon their first-round exit next season, they need to start working immediately as free agency gets underway.
Despite being a 101-win team, the Orioles have some housekeeping to attend to this offseason. The two most glaring issues that need to be addressed are the depleted starting rotation and the incoming logjam of position players.
The starting pitching let the Orioles down in the postseason after overperforming in the regular season. If the Orioles intend to compete in October next year, they need to address this weakness.
Moreover, in 2023, the Orioles already began to experience the effects of a logjam of position players. It is only going to get worse in 2024. You can only put eight position players on the field at a time. Depth is a great thing to have, but Baltimore has it in excess and needs to decide who to build around.
This is going to be a pivotal offseason for the Orioles. It could very well define the team for the next five years, if not longer.
Starting Pitching
Need: A top-flight starter
The Orioles have a new ace in Kyle Bradish. His breakout season saw him take over the rotation in Baltimore. The righty finished 2023 as one of the best pitchers in the American League. Pairing Bradish with rookie phenom Grayson Rodriguez gives the Orioles a solid one-two punch at the top.
The questions come further down in the rotation. John Means didn’t pitch much in 2023 after coming off of Tommy John surgery. It is hard to know what to expect from him in 2024.
Dean Kremer had a decent season, finishing with a 4.12 ERA. However, the advanced stats suggest some luck was on his side. It is hard to feel comfortable with Kremer in big games.
Cole Irvin had a really rough start to the year but pulled it together late. He pitched to a 3.00 ERA after July 1, but most of that work was out of the bullpen. Once again, he is a pitcher for whom it is hard to know what to expect.
The Orioles should be one of the most aggressive teams this offseason when it comes to pursuing top-flight starting pitching. This should include both free agent options as well as trade candidates. If you keep reading, I will dive a bit more into the trade side of things later in this article.
Free agents such as Marcus Stroman, Jordan Montgomery, and Eduardo Rodriguez should all be on the Orioles’ radar. Signing a pitcher of that quality would solidify the top of the rotation, creating a strong top three with Bradish and Rodriguez.
