The Baltimore Orioles have made significant progress in addressing their offseason needs.
To add right-handed power to their lineup, they signed outfielder Tyler O’Neill and catcher Gary Sánchez. On the pitching front, they bolstered their rotation by adding veteran Charlie Morton and international standout Tomoyuki Sugano, giving the team plenty of options to choose from. Additionally, the bullpen received a boost with the underrated signing of Andrew Kittredge, which could help resolve the struggles they faced there in 2024.
With these moves, the Orioles are positioned as legitimate World Series contenders. Few teams can match their lineup depth, and their pitching staff now boasts impressive depth as well. However, a lingering concern remains: the absence of an ace to lead the rotation.
This wasn’t an issue in 2024 when Corbin Burnes anchored the staff, but his departure to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency leaves a void. Beyond Morton and Sugano, the Orioles still need a frontline starter, and with all the top free-agent aces signed, a trade appears to be the only viable solution.
One potential target is San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease, as suggested by Nick Selbe of Sports Illustrated. Selbe’s proposed trade would involve the Orioles sending outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott, and outfielder Dylan Beavers—the Nos. 4, 5, and 6 prospects in Baltimore’s system—to San Diego.
“Cease is as reliable as it gets among arms that could be available on the trade market,” Selbe wrote. “He’s posted a 3.52 ERA across 130 starts over the past four years. Entering his age-29 season, he won’t come cheap, especially with only one year left before free agency. The Orioles, however, have the prospect capital and the urgency to make this move after consecutive early playoff exits.”
Baltimore has a wealth of young talent, but there isn’t enough room on the Major League roster for all their prospects to develop. Trading some of their assets to address a critical need would be a logical step forward. Crucially, the Orioles could make such a deal without sacrificing their top two prospects, corner infielder Coby Mayo and catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo.
Though acquiring Cease would put the Orioles in a similar situation to their one-year stint with Burnes, it’s a risk worth taking. With a championship-caliber roster already in place, landing an ace could be the key to pushing them over the top.
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