It’s still early in the 2025 MLB season, but the Baltimore Orioles have a problem. Worse, it isn’t a new problem. In fact, it has been Baltimore’s Achilles’ heel for the past three seasons.
The Orioles are in serious need of starting pitching. Their 5.48 team ERA ranks dead last in baseball. They need starting pitching depth, and they need legitimate top-of-the-rotation options. But how they’ve gone about addressing those needs over the past few years has been questionable at best.
Advertisement
In 2023, when they needed an ace, Baltimore made a midseason trade for Jack Flaherty, who had a 4.43 ERA in St. Louis in the first half, before letting him walk in free agency. Entering 2024, Baltimore actually accomplished their goal of adding an ace, trading for former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers. But then, after a successful season that saw Burnes go 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA and finish top-five in AL Cy Young voting, the Orioles were unable to keep him in Baltimore. Worse, the Orioles were never really considered serious contenders in Burnes’ free agency.
And now, in 2025, the Orioles’ rotation has left a lot to be desired to start the season. Starters Cade Povich and Dean Kremer each have an ERA over 6.00, while 41-year-old veteran Charlie Morton has an ERA north of 10.00. The team’s two best starters, Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, are currently on the injured list. Rodriguez, who hasn’t pitched since July 31 of last year, went on the IL due to right elbow inflammation and is now seeking second opinions on a sore right shoulder.
The injuries have been an unfortunate break for the Orioles, but pitching injuries are to be expected in baseball, which is why depth is so crucial. Baltimore’s failure to plan ahead for injuries combined with its inability to add productive starting pitching has really hurt this team’s chances to contend at a time when its window should be wide open, even in one of baseball’s toughest divisions.
Advertisement
The Orioles did add 35-year-old Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano this past offseason, and he has been solid to begin his MLB career, but beyond Sugano and Morton, there were no major additions to the Baltimore rotation. Meanwhile, Trevor Rogers, who was acquired from the Marlins at the deadline last summer, was totally ineffective for the Orioles and sent to Triple-A just two weeks after his arrival. He began this season on the IL and isn’t expected back before May.
One…