Baltimore Orioles Round Out Pitching Rotation; Improvement From Last Season

President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles Mike Elias had three main goals this off-season: 

1. Add an impact bat 

2. Improve the starting pitching rotation 

3. Add high leverage relievers 

After trading for Taylor Ward, and singing Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley, it's safe to say that Elias completed tasks one and three of the off-season. 

However, many believe that Elias has FAILED to improve the rotation, even after making three strong moves to elevate the floor of this unit. I, however, believe Elias significantly improved the pitching rotation.

Elias' first move to improve the rotation was trading for former top prospect and 26 year-old Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Baz possesses crazy high upside, as he has some of the best stuff in the league. However, Baz has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career, with the worst one being Tommy John surgery in September of 2022 which caused him to miss the whole 2023 season. 

After a year and a half of waiting, Baz was finally set to return to the mound in 2024 where he had a career year, posting a lights out 3.06 ERA in 79.1 innings of work. Unfortunately for Baz, his 2024 season was still bothered by injuries as he made a few stints to the injured list with an oblique injury. 

However, 2025 was the breakout year for Baz, as he saw himself pitch a career high of 166.1 innings and start in 31 games. Baz would post a disappointing 4.87 ERA, but his advanced numbers indicate that Baz is a high quality arm, especially because he would pitch half of his games in a minor league ballpark. 

On December 19, 2025, Baltimore acquired Baz for prospects Slater De Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick. 

However, Elias and company weren't done yet. 

Elias decided to bring a friendly face back to Baltimore in Zach Eflin. 

It wasn't too long ago when Eflin was Baltimore's opening day starter; unfortunately for Eflin, the injury bug derailed his 2025 campaign. 

Eflin would see himself take multiple trips to the injured list, due to lat strains, lower back discomfort and more. 

Eflin finished his 2025 season with a 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 71.1 innings. 

Luckily for Eflin, Baltimore still has hope in Eflin to be a key piece of their rotation, as prior to 2025 he was LIGHTS OUT for Baltimore, posting a 2.60 ERA and a 1.8 WAR in 55.1 innings with Baltimore in 2024. 

Elias and company believe that Eflin can get back to this level, as he is only 31 year-old. 

On December 28, 2025, Baltimore resigned Eflin to a one-year, $10 million dollar contract with a mutual option for 2027. 

However, fans still wanted Baltimore to land their true ace. Framber Valdez, Freddy Peralta, Ranger Suarez were all dream candidates for Baltimore, but Elias failed to land them, forcing him to pivot elsewhere. 

Many wanted Baltimore to sign veteran and former All-Star Zac Gallen, but his price tag was simply too high for Baltimore's liking. 

Instead, they signed 36 year-old veteran Chris Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5 million dollar contract on February 11, 2026. 

Bassitt is one of four players to have thrown at least 170 innings in each of the past four years; the players being Logan Webb, Framber Valdez, Kevin Gausman and of course Bassitt. 

Bassitt is a proven work horse who can give Baltimore some valuable innings in the dog days of summer, and is an extremely quality addition to the rotation.

Not only is Bassitt a veteran and clubhouse leader, but he raises the floor of Baltimore's rotation significantly. 

Baltimore went from having a rotation of Eflin (1), Charlie Morton (2), Dean Kremer (3), Tomoyuki Sugano (4) and Cade Povich (5), to Kyle Bradish (1), Trevor Rogers (2), Shane Baz (3), Chris Bassitt (4), Zach Eflin (5) and Dean Kremer (6).

Anytime your ace of last season moves to fifth in the rotation the year after, it means you significantly upgraded the unit. 

After waiting all offseason on Framber Valdez, Elias acquired Baz, Eflin and Bassitt for less combined money than Detroit is paying Valdez this upcoming season. 

Baltimore now has one of the deepest rotations in the American League, paired with potentially the best offense in baseball.