Healthy Former AL Rival Pitcher Could Offer Baltimore Orioles Depth
The Baltimore Orioles head for spring training this week with a starting rotation anchored by a Cy Young winner and a staff of young pitchers.
Corbin Burnes will anchor the rotation. The Orioles made the move to trade for him a couple of weeks ago and may attempt to sign him long-term at some point this season.
But a staff as young and talented as Baltimore’s could always use a bit more veteran depth. And that’s something that former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jake Odorizzi could offer.
On Monday, MLB Network reported Odorizzi was pitching without restrictions and looking to sign a Major League contract in the coming weeks.
He’s looking for a deal now after missing all of 2023 with an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April.
At the time he was with the Texas Rangers, and it was hoped he would contribute to their rotation. He spent the entire season on the Rangers’ injured list as the franchise won its first World Series.
Now he’s a free agent and just put in a full offseason throwing program. He’s also thrown for at least a dozen MLB teams as he hopes to sign a deal.
The report didn’t connect teams to Odorizzi, but he could be a Kyle Gibson type, one that has been around the block and can give the Orioles innings. Before his surgery, Odorizzi had four seasons of at least 30 starts.
Along with Burnes, the Orioles have Kyle Bradish — who finished in the Top 5 of AL Cy Young voting last season — Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells in a projected rotation.
Odorizzi made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2019 with Minnesota, where he had a career-high 15 wins. He’s 74-69 for his career with a 3.99 ERA.
Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Odorizzi has 10 years of MLB experience since his debut in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals. He followed that with stints with Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Houston and Atlanta.
