Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles see signing right-hander Jack Flaherty as "one fallback option" if Corbin Burnes walks in free agency, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

According to Rosenthal, the Boston Red Sox are another team that "can not be ruled out for Flaherty."

The Red Sox "liked" Flaherty last offseason before he signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, Rosenthal wrote.

A midseason trade by the Tigers sent Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he started five postseason games on the team's way to the 2024 World Series title.

After recording a loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS, Flaherty bounced back with a strong seven innings in a Game 1 NLCS victory over the New York Mets.

Flaherty struggled over his last three starts of the postseason, then capped off the stretch by allowing the New York Yankees to hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning of the Dodgers' victorious Game 5 of the World Series.

Flaherty, who is from southern California, said after winning the title with the Dodgers that he wanted to stay with the team.

"I love this city. I never want to leave," Flaherty said during the Dodgers victory parade.

But the Dodgers' rotation got more crowded following the signing Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal alongside the anticipated return of Shohei Ohtani.

Flaherty played the 2024 season on a one-year, $14 million agreement with the Tigers. He is projected by Spotrac to receive a three-year, $63 million contract on his next deal, but that price could rise given the strong market for pitching this weekend.

The Red Sox recently acquired Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, adding him to a rotation currently staffed by Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolioto.

Boston isn't done making adjustments to this rotation, if the club's reported interest in Max Fried was any indication. The Red Sox made Fried a seven-year, $190 million offer before he signed with the New York Yankees, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Flaherty would be a more affordable addition that could allow the team to still add veteran experience to the rotation.

The Orioles are meanwhile in danger of missing out on Burnes, whose price could continue rising after the Fried deal. USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently reported that Burnes is expected to sign for more than $250 million, and that he has been "in serious talks" with the San Francisco Giants.

Baltimore could consider Flaherty an attractive alternative in part because he didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers. The Orioles are focused on collecting draft stock and would prefer to find a pitcher who doesn't cost them a compensatory pick, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.

Flaherty recorded a 3.17 ERA through 28 starts and 162.0 innings with the Tigers and Dodgers last season. Should he sign with the Red Sox or Orioles, the contract would mark his fourth team since the St. Louis Cardinals traded him in August 2023.

Stockpiling draft capital could potentially prevent the Baltimore Orioles from signing some of the biggest available free agent starting pitchers still available.

The Orioles are "reluctant" to sign Max Fried, Sean Manaea or Nick Pivetta because all three received qualifying offers from their respective teams, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported for The Athletic.

Signing Fried, Manaea or Pivetta would cost the Orioles a compensatory draft pick. Because the Orioles are a revenue-sharing recipient, the club would be required to send over their third-highest selection in the 2025 draft, per MLB rules.

That could mean the loss of a top-40 pick. The Orioles currently hold the No. 19 selection and could receive two more picks in the 30s, per Rosenthal, should Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander sign elsewhere after receiving qualifying offers from the O's.

Burnes could still return to Baltimore, although Rosenthal and Sammon described the possibility as "remote."

The right-hander could be seeking something close to a six-year, $175 million contract, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. A deal in that range would be uncharacteristic for the Orioles, who have yet to sign a free agent to a multi-year contract under Mike Elias' six-year tenure as general manager.

Elias said in October that he was "pretty confident" that the Orioles would complete increasing their payroll in 2025. But as Rosenthal and Sammon noted, the O's could be out-bid for Burnes, especially one of the deep-pocketed suitors for Juan Soto.

Should a Soto bidder like the New York Mets or New York Yankees miss out on signing the star outfielder and turn their attention instead to Burnes, they could offer more money and leave the Orioles with the compensatory draft pick but no ace.

Rosenthal and Sammon reported that the Orioles were previously "highly competitive" to sign Clay Holmes. The O's, like the Mets, wanted to transition the former reliever into a starting role, per Rosenthal and Sammon.

But Holmes inked a three-year, $38 million deal with the Mets instead, and the Orioles will remain in need of a starter should Burnes sign elsewhere.

Baltimore has previously been linked to White Sox staterr Garrett Crochet, per Feinsand. However, trading for Crochet would likely require further depleting a farm system still recovering from losing the top prospects sent to Milwaukee in the Burnes trade last winter.

Four-time All-Star Corbin Burnes is "widely expected to clear $200 million" on his next contract, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.

McDaniel projected the starting pitcher to get $225 million over seven years in free agency. That would be the third-biggest deal for an active pitcher. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto and New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole are the only two with a total payout exceeding than $185 million.

Blake Snell will serve as a cautionary tale for notable aces who overestimate their market value and ultimately have to settle for much less than they were expecting.

This time last year, McDaniel put Snell's value at $150 million over six years, and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand followed up in February to report the two-time Cy Young winner was holding out for $200 million or more. He wound up signing for $62 million from the San Francisco Giants and opted out after one year.

On a broad level, teams are still willing to pay a premium for proven pitching, though. Aaron Nola ($172 million), Tyler Glasnow ($136.6 million) and Zack Wheeler ($126 million) all signed extensions with their current teams within the last year.

Burnes has been durable and pretty consistent on the mound, two things that will make him an attractive target to prospective suitors.

In 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, he went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA and a 3.55 FIP. His 3.7 WAR ranked 18th among all pitchers at FanGraphs.

And while the right-hander averaged his second-fewest strikeouts per nine innings (8.4), that was partially by design. He told Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com in May that hitters were attacking him differently, so he adjusted his strategy appropriately.

"We are seeing a different approach against me," he said. "It was easy to see that Blue Jays lineup approach was, if they get to two strikes, they were doing all that they can to put the ball in play. I think that is kind of how the game is changing. You are seeing lineups change to more of a contact approach. Things tend to happen more when the ball is put in play.

"That is one thing you are seeing. Also, pitch-mix-wise I am a little bit different. Pitch sequencing is one of the things I've been looking into recently to try and combat this approach when they get to two strikes and just kind of throw the bat at it to put the ball in play."

Burnes averaged 97.0 mph on his fastball and 95.3 mph on his cutter, per Baseball Savant, so his velocity hasn't gone anywhere. His 28.6 percent whiff rate was nearly identical to 2023 (28.7 percent) as well.

As one of the top starting pitchers on the market, the 30-year-old should be able to command an offer that matches his valuation and perhaps even exceeds it.

The Baltimore Orioles are heading back to the playoffs for the second consecutive season after clinching a berth with Tuesday's win over the New York Yankees.

They also prevented New York from clinching the American League East with the victory.

THE ORIOLES ARE HEADED TO THE POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/b27fpYmsUx

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 25, 2024

As the MLB playoff picture continues to come into focus, here are the updated matchups in both leagues based on the current standings.

Projected American League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals

Projected National League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
  

Current Standings

AL East

1. New York Yankees (92-65)*
2. Baltimore Orioles (87-70, 5 GB)*
3. Boston Red Sox (80-78, 12.5 GB)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 14 GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-85, 19.5 GB)

AL Central

1. Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**
2. Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5 GB)
3. Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5 GB)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5 GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (36-120, 54 GB)

AL West

1. Houston Astros (85-72)**
2. Seattle Mariners (81-76, 4 GB)
3. Texas Rangers (74-82, 10.5 GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (67-89, 17.5 GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-93, 21.5 GB)

AL Wild Card

1. Baltimore Orioles (87-70, +4 Games)*
2. Kansas City Royals (83-74)
3. Detroit Tigers (83-74)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 2 GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (81-77, 2.5 GB)
6. Boston Red Sox (80-78, 2.5 GB)
7. Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 5 GB)

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5 GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5 GB)
5. Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5 GB)

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers (90-67)** 
2. Chicago Cubs (81-77, 9.5 GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (79-77, 10.5 GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds, (76-82, 14.5 GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (73-84, 17 GB)

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63)*
2. San Diego Padres (90-66, 3 GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-70, 6.5 GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (78-79, 15.5 GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (60-96, 33 GB)

NL Wild Card

1. San Diego Padres (90-66, +3.5 Games)
2. New York Mets (87-70)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-70)
4. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 1 GB)

*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

---

Coming off a 101-win season in 2023, the Orioles upgraded their roster in the offseason by acquiring 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers.

There wasn't a team with a more exciting collection of young talent, both in the big leagues and minors, coming into 2024. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser were all entering their age-26-or-younger seasons.

Even with Henderson and Rutschman having graduated to the big leagues since 2022, the Orioles' farm system entered the year ranked No. 2 in MLB. Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB draft, was the consensus top prospect in baseball.

One reason the Orioles had to trade for a pitcher of Burnes' caliber is because their system was so heavy on position players. They have received solid contributions from Albert Suárez and Dean Kremer, but Burnes is clearly the anchor of the group.

Grayson Rodriguez was having a solid season before a right lat/teres strain sent him to the injured list on Aug. 7. He is working his way back, but it's unclear if he will be ready in time for the playoffs.

The Orioles are going to be carried in the postseason by their offense. The unit ranks second in MLB in homers and seventh in runs scored with Henderson and Anthony Santander leading the way in the power department.

That ball was CRUSHED. pic.twitter.com/eKLmSQOxSq

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 15, 2024

This roster was built to grind opposing pitchers into the ground. It's a formula that allowed the Orioles to challenge for the best record in the AL for the second straight year.

Now, the Orioles will look to earn their first playoff series win since reaching the ALCS in 2014.

The Baltimore Orioles announced that they have designated relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel for assignment. Right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

The 36-year-old Kimbrel went 7-5 with a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves over 57 games in 2024. He had a 2.10 ERA on July 7 but posted an 11.50 ERA in 19 games from July 14 to Sept. 17.

Kimbrel allowed nine earned runs over his final three appearances, including six in two-thirds of an inning in a 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

The Orioles made the move amid their current bid for a playoff spot.

The 84-67 O's, who are 2-7 in their last nine contests, sit second in the AL East, four games in back of the New York Yankees with 11 games remaining.

A wild card bid seems all but certain, though. Baltimore owns the first AL wild card spot right now. The 79-73 Detroit Tigers are the first team out in that race, five-and-a-half games back.

Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, has enjoyed a long and prosperous career. He's amassed 440 saves over a 15-year MLB stint and notably enjoyed a three-year stretch (2012-2014) where he posted a 1.27 ERA and 139 saves with the Atlanta Braves. Kimbrel has also finished top nine in the Cy Young voting on five different occasions.

But his command has been a problem this year. Thomas Nestico provided more information.

Craig Kimbrel has been DFA'd

The veteran closer has struggled mightily for the Orioles this season, posting a 5.33 ERA across 52.1 IP, including an 11.50 ERA in the 2nd Half

The stuff is still solid, but the command has tanked as the season progressed https://t.co/TxkHAfoDDe pic.twitter.com/gJBoTX52cr

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) September 18, 2024

Unfortunately, it didn't work out in Baltimore, which hasn't fared well overall in the bullpen this year. Per MLB.com, the team's 4.17 ERA ranks 21st in the bigs.

Baltimore needed a closer this offseason after Félix Bautista underwent Tommy John surgery, costing him the end of 2023 and the entire 2024 campaign. It was a massive blow to the O's, as Bautista dominated the bigs with 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA in 2023.

The O's signed Kimbrel to a one-year deal worth $12 million (plus a 2025 team option). However, he was later removed this season from the closer role in favor of Seranthony Domínguez, who was acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Phillies.

As for Kimbrel's replacement on the roster, Baker is a 29-year-old who has made 17 appearances this year, notching a 4.71 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 21 innings. In four years, Baker is 9-7 lifetime in the bigs with a 3.69 ERA (1.23 WHIP) and a 9.6 K/9 rate.

The Baltimore Orioles are calling No. 1 overall MLB prospect Jackson Holliday back up to the bigs.

Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner first reported that Holliday was headed to Baltimore. He is replacing infielder Connor Norby, who was dealt along with outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Miami Marlins in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Trevor Rogers right before Tuesday's trade deadline.

Holliday, 20, played 10 games with the Orioles earlier this season but was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk after getting just two hits in 34 at-bats.

In 73 games for Norfolk, Holliday has amassed 10 home runs and 38 RBI to go along with a .271 batting average and .908 OPS. He's also scored 75 runs.

Per MLB Pipeline, Holliday has posted a .948 OPS in July over 19 games. So he's heading back into the bigs with some positive momentum.

There was speculation that Holliday could be moved, perhaps for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. But both players stayed in their respective homes.

Now Holliday could very well be the Orioles' starting second baseman moving forward. Jordan Westburg would head to third, with Ramón Urías serving as a backup utility infielder.

It's ultimately not a surprise that Holliday is back in town, based on Orioles general manager Mike Urias' recent comments.

Elias also said he can see Mayo and Jackson Holliday bring big contributors in 2nd half https://t.co/ZoLqPhVTmI

— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 13, 2024

Now Holliday gets a second chance to showcase his tremendous potential. He joins an Orioles team currently home looking to close out a series win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon.

After a busy Friday ahead of the trade deadline, the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly still working on making some moves before Tuesday.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Orioles are looking to add a left-handed reliever, a right-handed hitting outfielder and a starting pitcher.

The report comes after Baltimore traded outfielder Austin Hayes to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Christian Pache. The Orioles also added a starting pitcher on Friday, landing Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays for three prospects.

According to Rosenthal, the Orioles are "not opposed" to adding a rental starter, as they have some security with Eflin, who is under contract through next season at $18 million. Rosenthal noted starting pitchers Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Blake Snell and Frankie Montas as possible options for rentals.

While the addition of Pache to the outfield gives Baltimore a right-handed hitter, he isn't exactly a needle mover. The fifth-year player has a .202 batting average this season with no homers and nine RBI in 104 at-bats.

The rest of the Orioles outfielders, aside from switch-hitting Anthony Santander, are lefties, so adding at least one righty to the mix before Tuesday could do Baltimore some favors.

If even if Baltimore doesn't make any more moves before the deadline, it will head into the home stretch of the season in good position. The Orioles, who sit at the top of the AL East at 61-42, have a top-10 team ERA of 3.74 as well as a potent offense that has belted a majors-leading 162 homers this year.

The top team in the American League East has added to their rotation.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin in exchange for three minor leaguers—Mac Horvath, Matthew Etzel and Jackson Baumeister.

ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the deal.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired RHP Jackson Baumeister, OF Matthew Etzel and INF Mac Horvath from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Zach Eflin and cash considerations.

— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) July 26, 2024

The Orioles were looking to bolster their rotation before the deadline, and they certainly did that by picking up Eflin.

Eflin, who spent two seasons with the Rays, has 87 strikeouts, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 19 starts this year. He's coming off the best campaign of his career that saw him record 186 strikeouts, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP with a 16-8 record.

Before joining Tampa Bay in 2023, Eflin was a valuable member of the Philadelphia Phillies team that reached the World Series in 2022. In the postseason two years ago, Eflin recorded a 3.38 ERA while coming out of the bullpen.

Eflin is the second member of the Rays to be traded in the days ahead of the deadline. Early Friday morning, Tampa Bay also dealt All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners as the team looks to build for the future while sitting in fourth place in the AL East.

Eflin now joins a rotation highlighted by Corbin Burnes, who boasts the fourth-best ERA in the majors at 2.45, and Grayson Rodriguez. Baltimore has the eighth-best team ERA this year at 3.73 and Eflin should help the Orioles get even better on the mound.

The Baltimore Orioles could be looking to add some pitching ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

The Orioles are reportedly interested in Cincinnati Reds pitchers Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez, per MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Morosi also noted that the Reds have indicated to teams that they are willing to trade players on expiring contracts.

The Orioles are also reportedly in talks with the Detroit Tigers about starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Baltimore, which boasts the second-best record in the majors, is among the favorites to contend for the World Series, and adding some talent to the rotation could give the Orioles a major boost.

They currently have the sixth-best team ERA at 3.68, but supplementing the rotation with a starter like Montas and the bullpen with Martinez might help that number a bit.

Montas, who is in his first season with the Reds, has 72 strikeouts with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 18 games this season. Martinez, also in his first season in Cincinnati, has 56 strikeouts, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 28 appearances. Of note, the right-hander has a 1.94 ERA in 23 relief appearances this season compared to a 7.36 ERA in five starts.

If the Orioles are really committed to making a splash before the deadline, landing Skubal would certainly do that. The Cy Young contender has 140 strikeouts, a 2.41 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP, notching a 10-3 record in 19 starts this season.

But as Nightengale noted, it would likely take an impressive package to get Detroit to trade its top starter. He reported that the Tigers "will move him only if they are overwhelmed by an offer."

It's hard to imagine Baltimore would be willing to part with any of its top players, but they have a handful of talented prospects like Jackson Holiday that could intrigue the Tigers.

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the best teams in baseball here in 2024, with a legitimate chance to play in and win the World Series. That is if they can bolster a bullpen that has been problematic for the past two seasons.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the O's were in touch with the Oakland A's and Miami Marlins about acquiring either Mason Miller or Tanner Scott.

Miller has tallied 15 saves and was the winning pitcher in this year's All-Star Game. Scott also tallied 15 saves for a bad Marlins squad and a 6-5 win-loss record.

The Orioles' best reliever this season, Craig Kimbrel, has accumulated 23 saves but also blown five saves. For comparison's sake, Miller and Scott have blown only four saves this season.

As a team, Baltimore has blown 11 saves, including three from de facto closer, Yennier Cano, who was an All-Star a season ago and one of the most dominant setup men in the league.

Miller would likely be the more expensive of the two, as he is on an expiring contract worth one year and $740,000, per Spotrac.

One would have to assume the Orioles do not make that deal without plans to sign the 25-year-old phenom to a long-term deal, which would cost the prospects, of which it has an abundance, on top of whatever that big-money contract would be.

Scott is a former Oriole who is also on an expiring contract. At 29, the organization would likely feel more comfortable utilizing him as a rental for this season, with the hope that he could deliver them their first World Series title since 1983.

The Orioles are a young team with incredibly talented bats. They lead MLB in home runs with 153, 13 more than the second-place New York Yankees. That the Bronx Bombers are in their division, as are the eighth-place Boston Red Sox, makes it more imperative that the team finds bullpen help that it can consistently rely on to preserve leads.

The young team, led by the one-two punch of catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and accentuated by All-Star Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, and veterans Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander, can score with anyone.

As they found out a season ago when their 105-win season was snuffed out by a red-hot Texas Rangers team with bats that Baltimore's pitching staff could not stifle, it takes excellence on both sides of the ball to make a legitimate World Series run.

To avoid giving up 21 runs in three games like they did last postseason, the Orioles must strengthen their bullpen with quality relievers.

Acquiring Scott, no stranger to the Orioles organization, would do that.

Managing to land Miller, though, would be a game-changer that would not only add a young arm but, upon the return of Félix Bautista from Tommy John surgery in 2025 and Cano to the setup spot, create a one-two-three punch that would be seemingly unhittable.

That is the stuff of championship clubs, something the Orioles are committed to being and certainly have most of the recipe for. Adding that one missing ingredient would put them over the top and heighten their chances of winning the Fall Classic.