The Baltimore Orioles need pitchers. They need them now, and they may need them even more in the coming seasons.
Ace Corbin Burnes, who has carried the Orioles’ rotation all season, is a pending free agent. Trade-acquired Zach Eflin, who is under contract through 2025, is on the injured list. And a whole host of talented homegrown starters, led by Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish, are also injured.
Since Baltimore is a young team that wants to compete for the World Series every year, an uncertain pitching staff could quickly become its Achilles heel. If Burnes doesn’t return as a free agent, the Orioles will desperately need another ace.
Fortunately, an insider believes they could be in the running for such a star. He’s just not currently playing organized baseball in the United States.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com named the Orioles as one of his top free agent candidates for Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki if he comes to the States after the 2024 season.
“Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s move to the major leagues sparked a bidding war last offseason. A move by Sasaki from Japan would have the same exciting factor, but his age would prevent similar hype for free agents,” Feinsand said.
Sasaki could be the best pitcher to sign an MLB contract this winter. Over the last four seasons in Japan’s major leagues, he has averaged 1.95 and has a top speed of 102 mph. His talent and age make him incredibly valuable compared to other pitchers.
Because Sasaki has not yet decided whether he wants to be transferred this winter, he was listed as a bonus pick in Feinsand’s article. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Sunday that “several club executives” believe Sasaki could stay in Japan for another season.
But because Sasaki is only 23, the Orioles could win the Sasaki-winning contest without having to outbid typical top spenders like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. International free agents under 25 are subject to international signing bonus rules that limit each team to a $5 million spending cap.
Although new Orioles owner David Rubenstein appears willing to expand the team’s payroll, it’s unclear if they’ll ever become major players on the open market. Sasaki would be a real steal for Baltimore, a potential low-cost top-tier player who would cement their position as a contender.
The question, of course, is whether Sasaki would choose Baltimore if he came at all. And only the young flamethrower can answer these questions in due course.
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