Baltimore Orioles Insider Says Rotation is Biggest Question Heading into Spring Training

The Orioles lost former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in free agency and have replaced him with a pair of question marks in Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws a second inning pitch against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2024. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

According to MLB.com, the uncertainty around the starting rotation is the biggest question for the Baltimore Orioles heading into spring training.

And that certainly seems fair, considering that the O's lost former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in free agency, as well as former ace John Means. On top of that, Kyle Bradish is still out with an elbow injury sustained last season.

The O's have attempted to plug the holes in the rotation by signing veteran Charlie Morton and Japanese veteran Tomoyuki Sugano, but neither of them are sure things at this point.

Per MLB.com:

The O’s will have plenty of starters competing for rotation spots. Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Albert Suárez and Cade Povich have all returned. Charlie Morton ($15 million) and Tomoyuki Sugano ($13 million) signed one-year deals. And Chayce McDermott (Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect at the end of last season per MLB Pipeline) is also in the mix. But there’s no longer a true ace because Corbin Burnes left for Arizona on a six-year, $210 million deal. The Orioles will need to find out whether their collection of arms is strong enough, while also figuring out how to slot them in

The Orioles are coming off a season that saw them finish second in the American League East and advance to the wild card round of the playoffs, where they were upended by the Kansas City Royals in two games.

Armed with young stars like Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg, the O's should be very formidable again, but it won't be easy to replace Burnes, or the 40-homer power provided by Anthony Santander. He left in free agency as well, signing with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The O's have replaced him with slugger Tyler O'Neill, who they signed in free agency as well.

The Orioles report to spring training this week and open the regular season on March 27.

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