MLB Insider Links Orioles to Cy Young Candidate in Blockbuster Trade
With a 101-win season and first-place finish in the American League East in 2023, the Baltimore Orioles have built the foundation for success.
The front office has made it clear that they’re going to go out and add a starting pitcher or two. With multiple names out there for the Orioles, don’t be surprised to see them possibly add two top-of-the-line starters.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reiterated that news with his latest free agency piece.
“To be clear, neither shortstop Gunnar Henderson nor the best prospect in baseball, shortstop Jackson Holliday, is going anywhere,” writes Passan. “Beyond them, the Orioles have plenty of others with value: prospects Coby Mayo, Jordan Westburg, Connor Norby and Joey Ortiz, and veterans Ryan Mountcastle, Ramon Urías, Jorge Mateo and Ryan O’Hearn.”
“The Orioles could trade right-fielder Anthony Santander, who’s set to make around $12 million in arbitration, and go with an Austin Hays-Cedric Mullins-Colton Cowser/Heston Kjerstad outfield. Baltimore is so deep, and so entrenched in the middle of a window of success, that getting a pitcher with multiple years of control is the move.”
With all of the trade chips that Baltimore has, it’s only a matter of time before they make a move. Passan says the perfect transaction for the Orioles is Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox.
Cease was the runner-up for the 2022 Cy Young after posting a 2.20 ERA in 184 innings. The numbers were down a bit this season, tossing 177 innings with a 4.58 ERA. However, that could’ve been due to the White Sox being one of the worst teams in baseball and Cease not bringing his best stuff every game.
A change of scenery with a young team like Baltimore may be just what Cease, and the Orioles, need.
