Is it Framber Valdez or Bust for the Baltimore Orioles?

The MLB offseason has officially hit its climax, with Kyle Tucker going to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a groundbreaking deal, Bo Bichette to the New York Mets, Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox along with many more moves. 

All of the top free agents are going off the board and quick, forcing multiple teams to enter a state of panic. 

However, there is one team that has remained patient throughout free agency who is expected to make one final splash. That team being none other than the Baltimore Orioles. 

After signing Pete Alonso in December, Baltimore has made minimal moves besides acquiring starting pitcher Shane Baz, but the belief is that Baltimore will acquire a top of the rotation starter to round out their rotation, via free agency or trade. 

A name that continues to circulate the rumor mill for Baltimore is southpaw pitcher Framber Valdez. 

Valdez (32) is one of the final dominos yet to fall in this loaded free agent class, but the newfound belief is that Baltimore's more likely to sign Valdez than they were days ago. 

After Boston shelled out a five-year, $130 million dollar contract to Ranger Suarez, they aren't in the market for a starting pitcher anymore. 

The New York Mets were finalists in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, but after he signed with Los Angeles, New York ended up signing Bo Bichette to a massive three-year, $126 million dollar contract.

New York and Baltimore are the two teams most interested in Valdez, but with New York's significant investment in Bichette, it seems increasingly likely that Valdez ends up in Baltimore rather than New York. 

MLB analyst and former GM Steve Phillips confirmed that Baltimore and New York and the top two teams interested in Valdez on MLB Network. 

Valdez is coming off of a slight down year, but still posted a very strong 3.66 ERA in 192.0 innings pitched. Valdez also had two complete games in 2025 -- a very impressive feat. 

The southpaw would make an immediate improvement to Baltimore's rotation, as his 767.2 innings pitched since the start of 2022 is second in the entire MLB, only behind Logan Webb from the San Francisco Giants. 

With that being said, Baltimore could very well pivot and look to acquire a starter via trade. 

Names such as Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez and Mackenzie Gore have been floated around in the rumor mill. 

I believe Baltimore will acquire a top of the rotation arm, but I am unsure whether that will be via free agency or trade.