Mike Elias keeps chasing new priorities while sidestepping Orioles biggest concern

At some point, Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias needs to just stop talking and go sign a starting pitcher. Securing a frontline starter, whether through free agency or in a trade, was Baltimore's No. 1 need entering the offseason and it remains the team's biggest necessity at this very moment.

Dylan Cease is now off the board after the Toronto Blue Jays struck a pre-Thanksgiving deal worth $210 million with the best starter on the open market. If we're to believe MLB insider Hector Gomez, the New York Mets are the favorites to land Framber Valdez and may be willing to fork over as much as $200 million.

But while anyone with two eyes and a functioning brain can see that a top-of-the-rotation starter should to atop Baltimore's shopping list this offseason, Elias continues to talk about other improvements the team needs to make.

Mike Elias needs to stop sidestepping the Orioles biggest issue and go sign a starter

Most recently, Elias commented on the need to get a reliever who has experience pitching in the ninth inning (i.e. - a closer). While it's true that the Orioles need to find a new closer with Felix Bautista sidelined for the 2026 season while rehabbing a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, securing a starting pitcher should be the overwhelming priority for Elias and Co. this offseason.

Baltimore has already made one major move this offseason, and it too had nothing to do with the starting rotation. The Orioles swung a trade with the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward — a position that became a need due to the foolish investment in Tyler O'Neill last offseason.

Not only did the Orioles' first trade of the offseason ignore their biggest need, it only exacerbated the problem due to the fact the Grayson Rodriguez was shipped to Anaheim in order to complete the deal for Ward. While Rodriguez's injury concerns are well documented, there's now an even bigger need for Baltimore to acquire an ace-caliber arm this offseason.

Stay patient, Orioles fans. At some point the light bulb will go off in Elias' head, and Baltimore will find a starting pitcher.