According to one MLB insider, the Baltimore Orioles could lose a prospective pitching target to their division rivals.
With whispers turning a little louder that the Baltimore Orioles might not be able to land the ace pitcher they’re looking for this offseason, their backup plan might have to be put in place soon.
After all, they can’t just wait around if they don’t think they can get one of the elite starters on the trade market.
With the loss of Kyle Gibson in free agency, the Orioles will have to replace 192 innings pitched and 33 starts over the course of their season.
Baltimore’s front office could turn to their internal candidates with Cole Irvin, Tyler Wells and DL Hall likely competing for the fifth rotation spot, but if general manager Mike Elias has shown anything in the past, it’s that he’ll add a cheap free agent to eat innings.
That seems to be reiterated by an insider who named a few different options they could pursue.
33-year-old Mike Clevinger was one of those players they might be interested in after he put together a bounce back season with the Chicago White Sox last year.
The right-hander was one of the top pitchers in the game during his tenure in Cleveland. After making his debut in 2016, Clevinger put together three seasons with a combined record of 38-18, an ERA of 2.96 across 80 appearances, 74 starts and 447 2/3 innings pitched.
