Everyone is talking about Morton, updates on Flaherty, and reflecting on the offseason so far.
Good Morning Birdland!
By now you’ve heard that the Orioles signed 41-year-old righty Charlie Morton to a one-year deal worth $15 million. The early reviews from the fan base have been less than favorable, and you can understand why. While Morton is a quality big league arm, he is not an obvious rotation-leading talent at this point in his career. And if you think of this move as swapping out Corbin Burnes in exchange for Morton, then it is downright depressing.
My read on the entire situation is that Mike Elias is building up a secure floor for his rotation. The trio of Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, and Morton is about as safe as it gets. If healthy, you can count on those three to give you relatively average production over 150+ innings. Based on the contract given to Tomoyuki Sogano, the Orioles expect similar output from him, although there is more risk since he is just debuting in MLB.
Grayson Rodriguez is the potential ceiling-raiser. The former top prospect has been a solid big leaguer to this point, but needs to avoid injury and get more consistent with his performances. Those feel like realistic goals for him in 2025, and if they happen it will transform this group.
The other wild card in all of this is the health of Kyle Bradish. He will not be back on the field until very late in the season, and that is if everything goes well with his rehab from Tommy John surgery. That is not the sort of thing that the Orioles can count on, but if it does happen then suddenly this team has its ace again. It would make this feel more like a formidable postseason rotation.
One area that does make me feel decent is the depth of the starters. Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, Albert Suárez, Chayce McDermott, and Brandon Young will all probably start a game for the Orioles in 2025 (if healthy and not traded). Those are not bad spot start candidates, and you would even feel decent if one of them had to step in for a few starts in a row.
But the point remains that the regular rotation feels more like that of an 85-win team than an obvious World Series contender. If it is paired with a top 5 offense and a bullpen that can lock down just about every close game, then maybe it is a 90-win team. This is in line with how Elias has built this team in past seasons. He rarely takes a huge swing, preferring to craft rosters that are deep.
There is still time left in the offseason for bigger moves. But what feels more likely is that this is the crew the Orioles will roll with into Opening Day. Elias and the front office will probably monitor performance, the trade market, and the rehab of Bradish to see if some in-season moves make sense. It’s a tempered approach that isn’t going to excite many, but it make sense to Elias, and ultimately that is what counts.
Links
Latest On Jack Flaherty | MLB Trade Rumors
The Orioles had been reported as one of the times in on Flaherty. You would have to assume that the signing of Morton takes them out of the running. The team is out of rotation spots, unless they move Kremer or opt for a six-man setup. Both of those scenarios feel unlikely, particularly early in the season.
After Charlie Morton addition, what are we supposed to make of the Orioles’ winter? | The Baltimore Banner
Most fans will probably be disappointed by the outcome of this offseason. The team has failed to add/retain an ace for their rotation. That was the biggest question mark going into the winter, and it remains one today. That is a big deal! But this team still feels pretty good overall. You could even argue they are deeper now than they were in 2024.
More on Morton’s arrival in Orioles’ rotation | Roch Kubatko
Roch does mention how a trade could result from the Morton deal. The surplus pitching may make more sense in a package for an impact talent. That would be pretty neat!
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Jay Tibbs turns 63 today. The righty appeared in 50 games for the Orioles between 1988 and ‘90, accumulating a 4.92 ERA in the process.
This day in history
2011 – Kevin Gregg signs a two-year contract with the Orioles. The righty is coming off of a career-high 37 saves with the Blue Jays and is expected to close games in Baltimore as well.