Ex-Red Sox pitcher has an aftershock in the Orioles trade market

Nick Pivetta signed a 4-year, $55 million contract to head cross-country to sunny San Diego. Although the Orioles were once called a potential option for the veteran right-hander, his signing elsewhere can affect the potential pursuit of Dylan Cease and Michael King.

Cease and King are both entering the final year of their contracts and will be free agents come November. With their impending free agency and Pivetta now in the fold, Harold Reynolds of MLB Network expects to see one of the two to be moved in the coming weeks.

Reynolds mentions the need to replenish the Padres farm system as a key factor on why they would need to move on from one of the two starters.

Cease and King have both been connected to the Orioles in trade rumors this winter. Details had emerged about the Padres' reported asking price from the Orioles that likely pulled them out of the race for the Cy Young candidate. The package San Diego was asking for was centered around some combination of Jordan Westburg, Samuel Basallo, and Coby Mayo. Westburg earned an All Star appearance during his rookie campaign in 2024 and looks to be a huge part of the Orioles' offense moving forward. Basallo and Mayo are the top two prospects in the Orioles system as of MLB Pipeline's rankings in 2024.

In San Diego, Cease seems to be the more untouchable of the two arms. The Padres may not want to move on from him unless they can bring in "significant major-league value" in return. Trades between contenders can be shocking and confusing. The two sides would need a surplus of talent and while the Orioles have that in positional groups, many are not major-league ready and are looked at for the future.

King on the other hand may be easier to pry away from the Padres and would cost the Orioles less than what the Padres are asking for Cease. Although fans are excited for Heston Kjerstad and his future in Baltimore it may be short lived unless the Orioles are able to move a different piece of their outfield. Another option of the major league talent that the Orioles hold would be to include Cedric Mullins in the deal. Mullins is entering the final year of his contract and would likely need to be supplemented with prospects but this would open the door for Kjerstad to find an everyday role in the outfield.

The Padres may also consider holding on to the pair of aces until the trade deadline to capitalize on the rental market from teams looking to get over the hump during the final stretch. The Orioles could be one of the teams looking for a starter at the deadline since the departure of Corbin Burnes has left them without a headline starter. The Orioles are opening their championship window and look to regain control of the American League East this season.