Baltimore Orioles Sign Promising Deal With Former All-Star Pitcher

Adding pitching has been the main topic of conversation for the Baltimore Orioles this offseason as getting an ace would put them into true World Series contender status.

They have been linked to Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox continuously and their interest in a free agent like Marcus Stroman has started to be rumored as well.

But, on Jan. 11, the Orioles decided to sign their pitcher John Means to a one-year, $3.325 million contract according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The left-hander was their 11th round pick in the 2014 draft and worked his way through Baltimore's pipeline until making his Major League debut for one game in 2018.

Means competed for an Opening Day roster spot during Spring Training heading into the 2019 season and was named to the bullpen unit, making three appearances before being moved into their starting rotation.

This was the best year of his career, posting an ERA of 3.60 across 31 appearances, being selected to his first All-Star game and finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Despite struggling in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Orioles named Means their Opening Day starter in 2021 and he proceeded to have a bounce back year.

In 26 starts, he posted an ERA of 3.62 over 146 1/3 innings pitched.

That season, the lefty also recorded the 10th no-hitter in franchise history, which was the first since 1991 and the first solo no-hitter since 1969.

But just as Means' career seemed to be taking off, he had to get Tommy John surgery in 2022, which has limited him to six appearances over the past two years.

However, the multiple-time Opening Day starter is expected to be back fully healthy for this season and Baltimore was able to sign him for much lower than Spotrac estimated his arbitration bill to be.

If Means is able to pitch at a high level in 2024, that's another addition which could massively help