The Baltimore Orioles find themselves at a pivotal point in free agency, and all eyes are on their ace situation. Priority number one?

Bringing Corbin Burnes back into the fold. If Burnes decides to move on, the scramble to fill that top spot in the rotation will be intense.

But while the spotlight shines on the pitching staff, there are whispers of adjustments elsewhere on the roster – and catching depth is one area getting some attention.

Mike Elias, the Orioles’ executive vice president and general manager, recently shared some insights on “MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM.” He underscored the need for additional catching depth alongside their star backstop, Adley Rutschman.

With James McCann stepping into free agency, the Orioles are looking at options to shore up their roster. “We need more catching to go with Adley,” Elias noted.

It’s clear the Orioles want to bring back key contributors, but they’re also exploring the free-agent market to fill those gaps.

While at first glance the pursuit of another catcher might seem unexpected this offseason, Elias’ strategy makes sense when you drill down. Baltimore’s farm system boasts emerging talents like top prospect Samuel Basallo, who could eventually fill those shoes. However, until they’re ready for the big leagues, consistent playtime in the minors might be more beneficial for their development.

Available catchers this offseason aren’t promising a lineup of superstars. Elite options are limited, and frankly, the Orioles aren’t shopping for their next starter – they already have one of the best in the business. Instead, the goal is to land a reliable backup.

Elias Diaz’s name has been floating around, courtesy of Rock Kubatko from MASN, who reports that he’s on the Orioles’ radar. Diaz, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP during his stint with the Colorado Rockies, caught some eyes. Despite the buzz around the trade deadline, he stayed put, only to be waived by Colorado and picked up by San Diego.

A veteran at 34, Diaz is an intriguing prospect. When healthy, he shows flashes of excellence but has yet to post sparkling numbers consistently, with an 82 OPS+ over his career. Even during his All-Star run, his .267/.316/.409 line with 14 homers was respectable for a catcher, but not necessarily the stuff of stars.

The Orioles face a decision: sign Diaz if the price is right, or perhaps continue the search for a more economically viable backup option. What’s clear is that the Orioles are navigating free agency with purpose, and the moves they make will help define their 2024 season and beyond.