Retired Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy weighed in on the Baltimore Orioles’ rotation.
The Baltimore Orioles have made notable progress in reshaping their starting rotation this offseason, but one former Cy Young Award winner believes the team still has unfinished business. Appearing on MLB Network, retired right-hander Jake Peavy offered his perspective on Baltimore’s pitching staff and urged the club to add one more reliable arm before Opening Day.
Peavy was specifically asked whether the Orioles’ current rotation is strong enough to win the American League East.
He responded, “I don’t know. If they are healthy, I like Dean Kremer down there. When you look at what [Trevor] Rogers did down the stretch, he became a number one, and we understood why they made that move. Kyle Bradish, back from surgery, should be up there at the top. [Zach] Eflin has got something to prove. After that, Shane Baz and Kremer are really good. Can [Tyler] Wells and [Cade] Povich be enough depth? You’re going to need a lot more than seven guys to go through 162 games. Most teams do.”
Pressed further on whether Baltimore should add another arm, Peavy was direct. "I think they need one more guy to slot in the middle of that rotation that’s durable innings either, but also win you big ball games," he said.
Baltimore’s projected rotation currently features Bradish, Rogers, Baz, Eflin and Kremer, with Wells and Povich providing depth. It is a group that looks far stronger than last year’s version, thanks to Rogers’ breakout and Baz’s arrival via trade from the Tampa Bay Rays. Yet Peavy’s comments echo what many analysts have noted: while the Orioles have improved, they may still lack the kind of durable, mid-rotation presence that can stabilize the staff over a full season.
President of baseball operations Mike Elias has already acknowledged the rotation is not a finished product. Baltimore has been linked to free agents such as Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, both of whom could provide the kind of innings-eating reliability Peavy described. Adding another proven starter would not only protect against injuries but also give the Orioles a better chance of matching up with the deep rotations of their AL East rivals.
Peavy’s words carry weight given his decorated career, which included a Cy Young Award, two ERA titles and two World Series championships. For Baltimore, his advice underscores the urgency of maximizing their current window. With superstars like Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso leading the lineup, the Orioles’ path to contention may hinge on whether they act on Peavy’s suggestion.