Red Sox Rumors: Orioles Linked To All-Star Ace Projected To Sign $168M Deal
The Baltimore Orioles have put the Boston Red Sox and everyone else in the American League on notice: the birds aren’t playing around.
The Orioles signed former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso Wednesday to a five-year, $155 million contract. That follows the two-year, $28 million deal Baltimore previously gave closer Ryan Helsley.
But the Orioles are just getting started, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
“I don’t believe the Orioles are finished. They remain in the hunt for a frontline starting pitcher – (Michael) King and Framber Valdez are believed to be their top preferences – though as outlined above with the Mets, Baltimore could scour the trade market in search of that arm,” Feinsand reports.
“The Orioles still have that need for pitching, a big need all told, and you don’t spend money like this for Alonso without being willing to invest some more in the rotation,” MLB.com’s Will Leitch adds. “The Orioles aren’t sitting this winter out like some fans feared they might. That has to be a huge relief.”
The Red Sox have been linked to both King and Valdez during the offseason, especially once Lucas Giolito hit the open market. But if Boston waits too long, it might be shut out by the Orioles. Again.
“The Mets and Orioles are among the favorites according to sources, as both of the decision-makers at those clubs have a history with Valdez,” Feinsand notes.
“Baltimore GM Mike Elias was in Houston’s front office during Valdez’s first four seasons in the organization, while Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was the Astros’ assistant GM when Valdez signed,” Feinsand writes.
Earlier this week, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Valdez met with the Mets, Orioles and San Francisco Giants last month at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Nev.
The 32-year-old Valdez is a two-time All-Star with legitimate top-of-the-rotation talent. He has three-top 10 finishes in Cy Young Award voting over the last four seasons.
Last season, the southpaw went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA and two complete games. He’s made 31 starts in three of the last four seasons and pitched more than 190 innings each year.
Pairing Valdez with Garrett Crochet would give the Red Sox perhaps the best 1-2 starting combo in the majors.
At the start of free agency, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projected Valdez will land a six-year, $168 million contract.
If Valdez is the ace up the sleeve of Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, he better play it soon, because the Orioles aren’t fooling around this winter.