Baltimore Orioles Linked to Cy Young Candidate in Free Agency

The Baltimore Orioles will be looking for starting pitcher upgrades this offseason and have been linked to a Cy Young caliber ace in free agency.

With the offseason getting underway in the MLB, the Baltimore Orioles will begin their goal of finding starting pitching upgrades to elevate their rotation.

That was a clear weakness on this roster in 2023, as they were completely exposed in the playoffs when their three starters only gave them eight innings of work combined.

So, the Orioles' front office has made it clear that they'll be looking to add a No. 1 starter in free agency or via trade.

Former MLB executive Jim Bowden has linked Baltimore to Sonny Gray, who is set to hit the open market.

Gray has spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Twins and is expected to finish Top-5 in the AL Cy Young voting for his performance this year.

His ERA of 2.79 was the third-lowest in the MLB and second-lowest in the American League. He threw 184 innings which was the most he's thrown in a season since 2015.

The 33-year-old continues to add things to his game and Bowden notes why that will help him going forward.

"He finished in the 99th percentile in both pitching run value and breaking run value as opposing batters hit just .097 against his newfound sweeper, which was a difference-maker," he wrote.

The Orioles aren't willing to spend top of the market dollars in free agency. That hasn't been the philosophy of this ownership group and front office.

Bowden predicts that Gray will sign a contract in the neighborhood of roughly three-years and $64 million or about a little over $21 million per year.

That might still be out of Baltimore's price range even though it's not high-end money.

But, if the Orioles seriously want to add an ace to this roster, they'll have to actually spend money and make sure that happens.

Gray would be a great addition for Baltimore's rotation.