The Baltimore Orioles should target a “big-time starter” before the July 30 trade deadline, according to a prominent MLB insider, who also thinks that the team should target a particular player who has been the league’s breakout star this season.
The Orioles are just 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East going into today’s MLB games. They have won eight of their previous ten games, including a series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend. Although they have the resources to improve, the squad is a real threat to win the World Series.
The key question is if Baltimore will be ready to give up more of their valuable minor league trade pieces in order to strengthen the team for the final stretch and any upcoming difficult postseason games against the Yankees and Mariners. Aside from their trade for Corbin Burnes in the spring, they have been reticent, but Bob Nightengale of USA Today MLB insiders told Sportsnaut recently that he expected the organization to pursue another elite arm to complement their ace.
According to Nightengale, “I expect them to go get another big-time starter.” “You can’t accommodate all of those prospects.” They have struck out on every draftee thus far. That’s where I anticipate them to be in the AL East competition. The Baltimore Orioles are the team with the most talent. They have a lot of stuff.
Who would the Baltimore Orioles target on the trade market if they decided to acquire an impact starter? Nightengale, though, thinks they would rather to keep Garrett Crochet, who leads the league in strikeouts. That decision has both short- and long-term benefits, though.
Statistics for Garrett Crochet in 2024: 6–5, 3.16 ERA, 0.895 ERA, 116 SO, 19 BB, and 82.2 IP
“Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox is the guy that could be [the big-time addition], but the trouble is that he’s pitched career-high innings,” the man stated. “This kid is the best pitcher there is. He has been excellent in his previous three starts. 13 strikeouts in his last outing, all on fastballs except for one. Just electric things.
The reliever who is poised to become an All-Star starting pitcher has reason to be concerned about his innings this season. If they did acquire him, though, his major league relief experience may make him a valuable weapon out of the bullpen in the second half.
If Corbin Burnes walks in free agency after this season, Crochet would still provide them with a fresh, inexpensive potential ace for 2025 and 2026, even if he is unable to play a significant role in 2024. The 24-year-old is being paid less than $1 million a season and has a two-year contract remaining.
