2 SP depth options the Orioles can pivot to after Yusei Kikuchi signing

On Monday afternoon, the LA Angels continued their torrid offseason pace and signed LHP Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year contract worth $63 million. Kikuchi, in addition to RHP Kyle Hendricks and catcher Travis d'Arnaud, will join an Angels squad that was dismal in 2024 in hopes of finding balance after last winter's split with superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Kikuchi was a very effective starter after being acquired by Houston at the trade deadline last year and had been seen as a potential option to help replace Corbin Burnes' production in Baltimore. His contract with LA means the Orioles will have to search for help elsewhere.

Kikuchi isn't a top of the rotation type of guy. Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried are all still out there if the Orioles want to pursue an ace. But if they want to fill in the back of the rotation with a Kikuchi type, there are more than a few options out there.

These two starting pitchers would fit well in Baltimore

Jose Quintana isn't a sexy name, and he doesn't profile as the type of guy Mike Elias would pursue. However, he's been an effective starter for the last three seasons and he could potentially be a viable innings eater to work in the back of the O's rotation.

Quintana missed some time with a stress reaction in his ribs back in 2023 but surpassed 165 IP in both 2022 and 2024. Prior to the shortened 2020 season, he was one of the most reliable starters in the league. While some of that stability is bound to dissipate as he enters his late 30's, he's still proven to be the type of guy to take the ball every fifth day and give you 5-6 solid innings.

Earlier in the offseason, MLB Trade Rumors predicted that the lefty would get two years and $20 million in free agency. That's a seemingly small price to pay for a guy who's pitched to a 3.39 ERA across 411.2 innings in the last three years combined.

Like Quintana, old friend Alex Cobb doesn't exactly stir up excitement but he could be a good buy-low gamble coming off a short 2024 season. Cobb had hip surgery last offseason and missed a substantial portion of the year rehabbing his was back. He also suffered a blister and a broken fingernail on his throwing hand that caused issues at the end of the year.

Despite the injury problems, Cobb was good when he was available in Cleveland. And prior to that, he spent 2022-2023 in San Francisco, where he pitched to a 3.80 ERA in 301 innings. He made 28 starts in each of 2022 and 2023, and while he made just 3 starts last year all signs point toward him being healthy for the start of 2025.

It's obviously a problem that Cobb's time in Baltimore went so poorly. Fans remember him struggling for three years as part of those bad late 2010's O's teams and it's not clear that he'd be welcomed back with open arms. However, the Orioles need help in the rotation and Cobb has the kind of track record that might make sense for Mike Elias and co. in this upcoming season.