The Baltimore Orioles are likely to miss out on re-signing ace Corbin Burnes this winter. Burnes is expected to land a deal in the range of $250 million while the Orioles will never come close to offering that to him.

As a backup plan, the Orioles could target any number of pitchers, but Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer predicted Baltimore would sign old friend Jack Flaherty to a four-year, $88 million contract.

“There were times in 2024 that Jack Flaherty pitched like a No. 1, and other times when he did not,” Rymer wrote.

“Flaherty had a 2.95 ERA when the Dodgers acquired him from the Detroit Tigers in July.

He also had two very good starts in the playoffs, including a scoreless seven-inning gem in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

“Yet even if teams hesitate to look upon Flaherty as a proper No. 1, he still has his selling points.

Among them are some stellar peripherals from this year, including a strikeout-to-walk ratio and whiff rate that were both elite.

Especially given that he isn’t tied to draft pick compensation, it’s possible that Flaherty will score a nine-figure deal. If not, he should at least come close.”

The Orioles traded for Flaherty at the 2023 MLB trade deadline.

The righty left a bad taste in the mouths of those in Baltimore as he surrendered 26 earned runs in 34 2/3 innings with the Orioles.

But he looked incredible last year and the veteran is right in the Orioles’ price range. A reunion here makes sense with Baltimore expected to miss out on Burnes.