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An Early Look at Baltimore Orioles 2019 Free Agent Options

By Nate Wardle

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves knocks in a run with a first inning double against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves knocks in a run with a first inning double against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 28: Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks PETCO Park on July 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 28: Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks PETCO Park on July 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Starting Pitchers

Starting pitcher is likely not an area where the Baltimore Orioles will want to spend a ton of money, and the top candidates aren’t going to be heading for a rebuild. And, there are a few top candidates out there.

However, a number of these options are also older pitchers who the Orioles would have no interest in.

Let’s look at these guys in tiers:

Tier 1 – Frontline starters
Dallas Keuchel
Patrick Corbin

Tier 2 – Solid starters
Drew Pomeranz
J.A. Happ
Charlie Morton
Marco Estrada
Gio Gonzalez
Tyson Ross

Tier 3 – Aging vets and injury concerns
Adam Wainwright
James Shields
Brandon McCarthy
C.C. Sabathia
Garrett Richards
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Brett Anderson
Nathan Eovaldi
Clay Buchholz
Edwin Jackson
Chris Tillman

Tier 4 – Fringe starters
Lance Lynn
Matt Harvey
Anibal Sanchez
Miguel Gonzalez
Francisco Liriano
Wade Miley
Jeremy Hellickson
Yovani Gallardo

Six former Orioles on this list, and I’m not trying to bring any of them back to Baltimore. The only fringe starter I would consider would be Liriano.

As for the aging vets/injury concerns, Eovaldi’s stock may soar depending how he does down the stretch with the Red Sox. Garrett Richards has good stuff, but has been decimated by injuries. I’d consider either of those two for the right price.

The frontline starters aren’t coming, so that leaves the solid starters.

Happ, Estrada and Morton are all 35, so they aren’t great options for a rebuilding team. Pomeranz is 30, Ross 32 and Gonzalez 33. I would be fine with any of those three, but Pomeranz has done it in the American League East, so he is my first option.

Top choices:
Drew Pomeranz
Tyson Ross
Garrett Richards
Gio Gonzalez
Nathan Eovaldi
Francisco Liriano

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