Orioles Reportedly Interested in Japanese Starting Pitcher

The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly interested in a Japanese starting pitcher.

The Baltimore Orioles have expressed their interest in pitchers during the early part of the MLB offseason. Despite finishing as one of the best teams in baseball last season, there was one clear area that the Orioles needed to improve. 

To be a high-level team in baseball, especially in the playoffs, a team's pitching needs to be borderline elite. For Baltimore, that wasn't the case in 2023. 

With multiple players being posted and getting the chance to sign an MLB deal from Japan, the Orioles are reportedly interested in one of them. Naoyuki Uwasawa, a right-handed starter, is receiving interest in joining the team as a back-end starter.

The article that states the interest in Uwasawa, which was written in Japanese, has been translated. 

"It has been learned from sources in the American baseball world that the Orioles, who have the highest winning percentage in the American League this season (.623), evaluate Uwasawa as a starting pitcher and are preparing to offer him a multi-year major league contract."

"It has been revealed that the Orioles are considering signing Uwasawa to a major league contract for more than two years."

The source then noted that Baltimore won't have to spend much, but doesn't view him as much more than a fourth or fifth option.

"The price is not high, but it seems like he is expected to be the fourth or fifth starting pitcher.''

Uwasawa isn't the superstar of the Japanese class coming in, but he's a good arm to have. He posted a 2.96 ERA and has thrown 160-plus innings in every season since 2021.