Should the Baltimore Orioles Add Kevin Gausman in MLB Free Agency?

Kevin Gausman is going to be a free agent for the first time since signing his five-year, $110 million deal back in 2021. The Baltimore Orioles are a team that drafted him fourth overall back in 2012 and could use rotation help heading into 2027. A reunion makes sense on paper. Gausman developed in the organization and Baltimore needs rotation help. Whether his recent numbers justify the investment is the harder question.

Gausman finished 2026 with a 9-12 record, a 4.51 ERA and 184 strikeouts across 177 2/3 innings split between the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.

The Blue Jays traded him to the Cubs in August, and he posted a 4.83 ERA in nine starts after the deal. In his only postseason appearance, he allowed three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres and did not make it out of the fourth inning. He also turns 36 before the 2027 season begins. 

Baltimore finished 79-82 and missed the playoffs. The rotation was not the reason the Orioles missed out on postseason play, but it needs to be addressed. Trevor Rogers is a free agent and bringing him back is one of the front office's top priorities. Kyle Bradish ended the year on the injured list with a sports hernia. Chris Bassitt is also a free agent. There are multiple spots that need to be filled.

If Rogers comes back, the rotation has a foundation with Bradish, Shane Baz and Brandon Young, who posted a 3.56 ERA in 28 starts in his first full season. That leaves one open spot, maybe two. Gausman could fill one of them. His 184 strikeouts show his splitter is still an effective pitch. He also has the ability to eat innings which should help ease some of the bullpen's workload.

However, his ERA was the highest it has been since 2019, and he really did struggle for Chicago. Still, assuming Gausman does not hang up the cleats, the Orioles should be in the mix on a one-year, prove-it deal.

That makes the risk more manageable and his familiarity with the organization could help him bounce back. 

Bassitt was supposed to fill that veteran role for Baltimore last season but dealt with a back injury that limited him to 18 starts. Gausman would have a chance to be the experienced arm in the rotation that the Orioles were counting on Bassitt to be if they sign him.