Baltimore Orioles Could Snag Starting Pitcher From Division Rival

The Baltimore Orioles' lack of pitching depth came back to haunt them this season as they finished the year with an underwhelming 79-82 record and missed the playoffs for the second-straight season.

This offseason, the Orioles could turn the tide by taking a page out of the division rival Tampa Bay Rays' playbook--signing starting pitcher Nick Martinez. The 36-year-old right-hander went 15-6 in 31 starts this year, posting a 3.10 ERA with 109 strikeouts.

Martinez's efforts were instrumental in Tampa Bay having an elite 98-64 season that saw them finish first in the AL East and make their third World Series appearance in franchise history. However, he may no longer have a spot in the Rays' rotation with Ryan Pepiot and Shane McClanahan each ramping up for a return to action next year.

As a result, it's unlikely that Martinez re-signs and that is where Baltimore could make things interesting in free agency. Kyle Bradish was the Orioles' top starter this year along with Shane Baz who the club acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay last offseason.

Bradish signed a five-year extension in July, but hasn't lived up to expectations. He compiled a 4.12 ERA and 142 punchouts through 155 innings pitched as he had his season cut short due to a sports hernia surgery. 

Baz didn't fare any better, going 6-15 in 31 starts and posting a 4.11 ERA with 154 strikeouts. Moreover, he gave up a lot of hard contact as opposing batters posted a concerning 41.2% hard-hit rate and low 21.5% whiff rate against him this year. 

Left-hander Trevor Rogers was a consistent contributor for Baltimore this year, recording a 4.03 ERA with 157 punchouts. Like Martinez, Rogers will be able to take his talents elsewhere in the coming months.

Losing Rogers would certainly hurt for the Orioles, but bringing in Martinez might help them compensate for the veteran presence that Rogers would leave behind.

Furthermore, the addition of Martinez could give Baltimore a competitive advantage against the Rays' offense given his familiarity with hitters such as Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero who is in the running for the AL MVP Award.

It's worth mentioning that Martinez turns 37 next August, so president of baseball operations Mike Elias would be wise to pursue other options if he demands anything more than a reasonable one or two-year deal.

Nonetheless, landing Martinez would be huge for the Orioles as they could not only bolster their rotation but also weaken a long-time adversary in Tampa Bay.