3 starting pitchers the Orioles should target if Trevor Rogers leaves in free agency

Despite getting off to one heck of a rough start to the season, Trevor Rogers came into his own by June and became one of the Baltimore Orioles’ best pitchers in 2026. Since Rogers is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, his dramatic turnaround likely saved him a lot of money. At the same time, his turnaround also increased his value on the open market, potentially making him too expensive for the Orioles. That would leave the team no choice but to target lefties in free agency. But who would they even go after?  

With Baltimore likely to extend Rogers the qualifying offer, now worth a little over $23 million, the left-hander will have a tough choice to make fairly soon. He can accept the offer and return to the Orioles, earning almost as much money as he’d made throughout his previous seven seasons combined, or he can become a free agent. There may be a team willing to offer Rogers a multi-year deal, but it could be a gamble. 

There is one thing that is certain though. If the Orioles lose Rogers to free agency, they will have a massive hole in their starting rotation in 2027. Beyond his strong performance this season, Rogers was the only southpaw in the rotation. If he walks, the Orioles will be at a big disadvantage when matched up against lineups with multiple left-handed batters. 

Orioles would have a tall task ahead of them trying to replace Trevor Rogers

Without Rogers, the Orioles will almost be required to add a lefty at some point during the offseason. Luckily, there are a decent amount of left-handed starting pitchers available in the free agent market. Obviously Tarik Skubal will become the top LHP available once the season officially comes to a close. However, he will likely command too steep of a contract for the Orioles to have a realistic shot at signing him. 

But that doesn’t mean that the team still can’t find decent value to bolster the rotation. Although the Orioles have some high-upside prospects that deserve a chance, free agency may be the smartest route to take. From injury-prone hurlers looking to prove their worth and revitalize their careers to mid-level lefties that will come at a price on the open market, the Orioles have a number of pitchers that they should target before the start of the 2027 season. 

Kris Bubic 

It will certainly be interesting to see how the market unfolds for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kris Bubic. When healthy, he has the ability to become a very solid option for the middle of the rotation. Before going down with a left rotator cuff strain in July 2025, Bubic was having a career year. Bubic boasted a microscopic 2.89 FIP in 116.1 innings of work.  

However, the major downside to the 29-year-old pitcher is figuring out when he’ll be healthy enough to pitch. Bubic has yet to appear in more than 29 games in a single season throughout his seven-year career. In fact, his career-high in innings pitched was just 130 back in 2021 for the Kansas City Royals. Injuries may have plagued Bubic up until this point in his career, but he could be worth a one-year prove it deal for the Orioles.  

Jordan Montgomery 

Jordan Montgomery has never been an elite pitcher throughout his nine-year big league career. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good though. In fact, he was once viewed as one of the more reliable starters from 2021 to 2023. So when he signed a one-year, $25 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he saw an opportunity to really cash in with another strong season. That never happened and Montgomery has struggled mightily to remain healthy and regain his form over the past three seasons. 

2026 could be something of a second chance for Montgomery to prove that he still has plenty left in the tank. He’ll be 34 years old by the time the 2027 season starts, so he likely won’t have too many more chances to find himself. But as an affordable reclamation project in Baltimore, he could do just that. Thanks to starting his career with the New York Yankees, Montgomery has plenty of experience in the AL East. That could make for a solid fit for both parties.  

Shota Imanaga 

In his three seasons in the big leagues, Shota Imanaga has been on the cusp of achieving greatness. After being named to the National League All-Star team in his first season with the Chicago Cubs in 2024, Imanaga seemed like he could transform into an ace for the club. Thanks to a propensity to giving up the long ball, that never quite took shape. The 33-year-old lefty has surrendered 93 dingers in 86 career starts. That’s a tough pill to swallow for any team. Which is why Imanaga and the Cubs may go their separate ways.  

However, if Imanaga can limit the amount of home runs he gives up, he could be a complete gamechanger for the Orioles. With a career 1.038 WHIP, Imanaga does a good job at limiting base runners. He also excels at getting batters to chase his nasty splitter. So there is still plenty to like about him. A pitcher vulnerable to the long ball at Camden Yards could be a recipe for disaster though. But does Imanaga have enough upside to justify the risk? The Orioles may be willing to find out.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow