Baltimore Orioles Linked to Blockbuster Trade with Guardians
The Baltimore Orioles may have 103 games during the 2023 MLB regular season, but their ultimate goal of winning a World Series was cut short by the Texas Rangers in the American League Divisional Series.
Still, the Orioles outperformed all expectations and they gained invaluable experience in the process, something a young team rarely gets the opportunity to partake in.
But they can still get better and set their sights even higher in 2024.
Additional starting pitching will be key for Baltimore, that's why it was unsurprising to hear that Cleveland Guardians starter Shane Bieber could be a potential fit.
The Orioles have a plethora of young outfielders and an incredible farm system. Austin Hays and Anthony Santander have already been touted as potential trade chips.
Bieber is a natural fit. The 28-year-old is in his final year of arbitration after signing a one-year, $10.1 million deal last winter to avoid the process. Cleveland may not want to risk, or spend, that type of money on a potential ace, especially if they don't feel like they can compete in a division they actively tried to lose at this year's MLB trade deadline.
On the flip side, the Orioles could justify spending $12 million-plus on true top-of-the-order starter, especially if they have designs on winning 100-plus games again in 2024.
Additionally, with their glut of outfielders, Baltimore could deal from a position of strength and excess.
The Guardians would receive young, controllable players in a position of need in the return.
There is so much talk about the match between these two teams because it makes so much sense.
Be on the lookout this winter for a potential blockbuster trade between these two franchises.
