Orioles Named Finalist for Elite Free-Agent Starter
The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly one of three teams in serious contention to land one of the top starting pitchers on the free-agent market.
Orioles fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the club’s aggressive offseason under president of baseball operations Mike Elias. Baltimore opened the winter by dealing former top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for slugger Taylor Ward. The move was widely praised, especially after it was revealed Los Angeles did not request a physical on Rodriguez, whose durability has been a recurring concern.
That trade was only the beginning. The Orioles followed it up by signing Ryan Helsley to anchor the bullpen while Félix Bautista continues to recover from injury. Then came the biggest headline of all: a five-year, $155 million deal for longtime Mets star Pete Alonso, a move that vaulted Baltimore’s offense into the upper tier of the league for 2026.
Despite those additions, the Orioles are still hunting for a top-of-the-rotation arm. The front office has been clear about its intention to add a frontline starter, and several premier options remain available.
Baltimore Among Final Three for Michael King
One pitcher frequently connected to the Orioles this offseason is Michael King, who spent 2025 with the San Diego Padres. King went 5–3 with a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts, missing roughly half the season due to a right shoulder injury.
Even with the injury history, King remains one of the most sought-after pitchers on the market. According to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe, King has reportedly narrowed his free-agent choices to three teams: the Orioles, Yankees, and Red Sox.
King is no stranger to the AL East, having spent the first five years of his career with the Yankees before being included in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to New York in late 2023.
If Baltimore is able to land him, King would pair nicely with left-hander Trevor Rogers and serve as a strong finishing touch to what has already been an impressive offseason. Even if King ultimately signs elsewhere, expectations remain that the Orioles will quickly shift their focus to another top starting pitcher on the market.
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