Essentials Inside The Story
- The Blue Jays could target Orioles' favorite pitcher in the free agency
- While Toronto is only trying to add depth, Baltimore seriously requires more arms
- The divisional clash isn't the only thing to look forward to in this sweepstakes as others are also targeting the same pitcher
There’s a saying in baseball: you can never have too much pitching. While teams like the Baltimore Orioles could truly require a prime pitcher, the Toronto Blue Jays believe adding another arm is never a bad idea. With what Nick Gosse of the Jays Digest requested the Jays, the latter just might become reality, leaving the Orioles empty-handed.
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According to Ken Rosenthal, Baltimore is very much in the Valdez sweepstakes as well. They have Kyle Bradish as their current ace, but durability is a real concern. Trevor Rogers looked like an ace last season, yet he comes with his own injury questions. Dean Kremer could form depth, yet none profile as true frontliners.
Earlier, Baltimore scouted Freddy Peralta. However, with him and MacKenzie Gore taken off the market, the Orioles still lack that rock-solid ace you need to win a World Series. Valdez, a proven World Series champion, checks that box. But there’s a catch.
Valdez is asking for a long-term contract of around 168 million dollars over 6 years. Such a commitment would exceed previous pitching deals Baltimore has approved under the current leadership. If Valdez is taken off the market, too, the Orioles could go after Zac Gallen for a proven and cheaper pitcher. However, his entry could be a gamble.
One way the Orioles could resolve their Valdez money problem is if the team offers fewer years while also keeping his AAV high. This will not only allow them flexibility but also cater to what Valdez is looking for. So now, it will be a divisional tug-of-war. However, the Orioles won’t be the only hurdle for the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays have multi-dimensional challenges
It’s not just the Orioles complicating matters for the Blue Jays in the Framber Valdez sweepstakes. There’s another serious contender in the mix: the Padres. And unlike Toronto, San Diego actually needs the pitching help.
The Padres do have Joe Musgrove, but he’s coming back from a Tommy John surgery. They’re also banking on Nick Pivetta to recreate his 2025 heroics, which is far from a sure thing, and while Michael King is in the picture, we all know how brutal it is to survive a 162-game season with thin depth. So, that’s where Valdez fits perfectly.
He wouldn’t just raise the ceiling on that rotation, but also provide a much-needed safety net.
The big question, though, again, is money. Valdez is expected to command a massive deal, and while the Padres may want him badly, can they really go dollar-for-dollar with the Blue Jays? That’s where things get interesting, and where the doubts start to creep in.