The Baltimore Orioles had a disappointing 2025 season.

The Orioles finished the 2025 campaign with an underwhelming 75-87 record and at the very bottom of the American League East standings. With this, the Orioles missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season.

The Orioles certainly took a notable step in the wrong direction in 2025. Just back during the 2024 season, the Orioles had a 91-71 record and finished second in the American League East.

This was after they were first in the American League East with a 101-61 record back in 2023.

Now, after their tough year, the Orioles have made it clear that they want to bounce back in 2026.

They already made a massive move this offseason, as they signed star slugger Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. They also brought in other new players like Ryan Hesley, Shane Baz, and Taylor Ward.

Yet, when looking at the Orioles’ current roster, it is clear that they could use a star pitcher for their rotation. As a result of this, they have been linked to star free agent pitcher Framber Valdez. Now, they have gotten an encouraging update on the possibility of landing him.

Orioles Predicted to Sign All-Star Pitcher Framber Valdez

In a recent article for CBS Sports, R.J. Anderson predicted where the top 10 MLB free agents remaining would sign. Valdez, who is the top free agent pitcher still available, naturally made Anderson’s list.

When it came to Valdez, Anderson predicted that the Orioles would be the lucky team to sign the eight-year veteran.

“Valdez doesn’t fit the modern archetype for a front-of-the-rotation starter. He’s not an elite bat-misser or strikeout artist. In short, he’s not new Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease.

Valdez is valuable all the same as a contact manager who has averaged more than 30 starts over the last four seasons. The most obvious fit has had him joining the Orioles — that’s given Baltimore’s obvious need for pitching help and also his shared history with top executive Mike Elias. That’s still the case,” Anderson wrote.

When noting that the Orioles undoubtedly need another impactful pitcher, it would make a ton of sense for them to sign Valdez. He would immediately give their rotation a major boost if brought in, which would be great news for an Orioles team that is looking to get back into the playoffs.

The Orioles have shown that they are willing to be aggressive with their spending this winter, too. As a result of this, it would be entirely understandable if they spent more to land a star pitcher like Valdez.

Orioles Will Have Plenty of Competition for Valdez

With Valdez being the top pitcher still available for the taking in free agency, there is no question that the Orioles will have a lot of competition for his services.

Teams in need of pitching help certainly should have Valdez on their radar, as he has been a very good pitcher for multiple seasons now.

Valdez is coming off a solid 2025 season with the Houston Astros, as he had a 13-11 record, a 3.66 ERA, and a career-high 187 strikeouts. He was also an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, so there should be a lot of teams looking to add him to their rotation.

It will be interesting to see if the Orioles can end up being the lucky club to land Valdez from here.

A Need for Middle-Inning Stability

The Orioles already appear comfortable with their late-inning options. Their high-leverage arms are largely in place, and the team isn’t expected to chase a top-tier closer at this point. Instead, the greater need lies in finding reliable middle-inning depth—a reliever capable of absorbing innings, bridging gaps, and keeping games competitive when starters exit early.

That’s where a pitcher like Kinley comes into the conversation.

Kinley wouldn’t be asked to pitch the ninth inning or handle the most pressure-packed situations. Rather, his value would come from being a dependable right-hander who can take the ball in the sixth or seventh inning, limit damage, and give the bullpen flexibility over the long grind of a season.

Industry Expectations Point to the Bullpen

According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, Baltimore is expected to turn its focus to reinforcing the relief corps now that the rotation is settled.

“With Zach Eflin re-signed to put the finishing touches on the Orioles rotation, the focus will now shift to shoring up the relief corps around Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin,” Reuter wrote. “The top end of the reliever market has been picked clean, but there are still plenty of solid value plays available on what will likely be one-year or minor league deals.”

That description aligns closely with what Kinley represents: a low-risk, short-term option who could provide value without requiring a significant financial commitment.

Why Kinley Makes Sense

Last season with Atlanta, Kinley showed he could be trusted in a variety of situations, particularly in games that required length from the bullpen. He isn’t flashy, but he throws strikes, competes, and has enough experience to avoid being overwhelmed by tight games or tough lineups.

For a team with postseason ambitions like Baltimore, having pitchers who can stabilize games outside of the late innings is crucial. Injuries, short starts, and extra-inning contests can quickly expose a lack of depth. Adding a veteran arm like Kinley helps guard against those scenarios.

As the saying goes, contenders can never have too many pitchers. Even if a move like this doesn’t work out perfectly, the cost would likely be minimal, and the upside—additional stability over a long season—makes it a worthwhile gamble.

With the major pieces already in place, the Orioles now appear poised to focus on smart, subtle additions. Tyler Kinley may not grab headlines, but he’s exactly the type of player who can quietly help winning teams stay afloat when the margins get thin.