Mike Elias’ free-agent connection speaks volumes to Orioles fans looking for a splash

The Baltimore Orioles have had an active offseason, trading for Taylor Ward and signing Ryan Helsley, but they still haven't addressed their top priority. The Orioles need a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and have been forced to watch from the sidelines while Dylan Cease signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and Sonny Gray was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

Even if the Orioles were looking at Cody Ponce as a potential option, the Blue Jays have already taken him off the market as well.

Less than a week before the Winter Meetings, Orioles fans are hoping the team's next splash is for one of the top free-agent starting pitchers still available. A group that includes Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, and Michael King.

Of all the free-agent options for the Orioles, there is one who has a direct connect to Mike Elias

The name that sticks out is Valdez. Given his age and some character concerns that surfaced during his farewell with the Astros, Valdez would address the Orioles' need for a top-of-the-rotation arm without Baltimore having to break the bank.

Teams are going to have questions for Valdez about his infamous cross-up incident with teammate Cesar Salazar, but the Orioles may already have some of the answers. Before his time at the top of the Orioles' front office, Mike Elias was with the Astros from 2012-2018.

While Elias' last season in Houston coincided with when Valdez made his Major League Baseball debut, the 32-year-old was signed as an amateur free agent in 2015. Elias was heavily involved with the Astros' amateur scouting, so chances are he has a good idea of who Valdez is beyond the durable ace he was on the mound.

If that leads to the Orioles signing Valdez, then perhaps fans can set Valdez's character issues to the side. However, if Elias passes up on bringing in the top free-agent starting pitcher, perhaps that speaks to the concerns other teams have about the veteran's character.

Passing on Valdez would be fine for the Orioles, as long as there is a splash that arrives for the rotation. If there isn't, fans may not care about the fact that Elias adhered to the red flags surrounding Valdez's free agency.