ESPN insider just gave the Orioles a hard dose of reality regarding offseason upgrades

What happened in 2025 can't happen again. The Baltimore Orioles can talk all they want about this year's debacle being a blip on the radar, but if they really want to put the disappointment behind them, that means correcting the missteps of the past.

For starters, that means that Mike Elias has to keep his word and actually do what's necessary to land an ace in Baltimore. That means no half measures, no No. 3s masquerading as top-of-the-rotation arms, no hoping that internal improvements can carry them through.

In other divisions, that might work, but in the cutthroat American League East, pussyfooting around and not taking the club's most pressing issue head-on is a recipe for disaster.

ESPN Insider name drops the type of starting pitchers the Orioles must land to avoid being pummeled in the gauntlet that is the AL East

That's exactly the warning that ESPN Insider Tim Kurkjian gave. After all, the Toronto Blue Jays just pushed the Dodgers to the limit in the World Series and show no signs of slowing down, the Boston Red Sox are coming, and the New York Yankees are gearing up to avoid another early playoff exit.

To that end, Kurkjian made a list of five free-agent starters that must be on the Orioles' radar. Those would be Framber Valdez, Michael King (if healthy), Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Shota Imanaga. Per Kurkjian, all five are capable of leading a rotation, and at worst can serve as overqualified No. 2s.

Of course, those aren't the only options. The trade market also has a decent amount to offer. Tarik Skubal would be the ultimate prize. Nearly the entire league is sniffing around Freddy Peralta. The Minnesota Twins' teardown could put Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez in play.

Those are the waters that Baltimore needs to be swimming in, but to take it a step further, not all are created equal. Skubal's case is complicated, but if he truly becomes available, he's immediately in a class of his own. After that, Valdez and Peralta are clearly the next tier. Cease, King, and Suarez are also worthy.

Once you move on from those options, things start getting a bit more dicey. Imanaga's homer issues might make him a poor fit. He, along with Ryan and Lopez, might fall into the category of high-end twos more than true No. 1s.

That's not to say the Orioles couldn't target them, but they'd be adding importance to make other upgrades elsewhere, particularly in the back-end of the bullpen.

It's unfortunate that Baltimore finds itself in the most competitive division in baseball, but it's a reality the club must accept. Failure to do so will only result in disappointment and another year of their prime window squandered, which fans will find too tough to stomach.