MLB pundit stumbles into a perfect Orioles fit after getting the take totally wrong

The expectation is that the Baltimore Orioles have one more move up their sleeve before spring training starts, and conventional wisdom points to the team bolstering its pitching staff. The Orioles have already upgraded their group of pitchers this winter, highlighted by the trade for Shane Baz and the signing of Ryan Helsley, but there remains a belief that they should add a frontline starting pitcher to the mix before Opening Day.

Along those lines, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller gets it wrong when talking about the Orioles. The MLB pundit believes Baltimore could roll out a six-man rotation in 2026, and for that reason, there shouldn't be an expectation for them to land either Framber Valdez or Zac Gallen before the offseason closes.

That doesn't feel entirely accurate. Baz is certainly an ideal upside play for the rotation, and bringing back Zach Eflin provides some stability for the backend. They could still stand to use a more established option to go next to Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish at the top of the rotation. If there's a path available, and there should be, Valdez does make a ton of sense for Baltimore.

If the Orioles don't address the rotation, an reunion with Danny Coulombe for the bullpen makes ideal sense

Miller, however, does back into an ideal free-agent fit for the Orioles. The suggestion was that a reunion with left-handed relief pitcher Danny Coulombe could make sense for Baltimore.

Coulombe spent 2023 and 2024 with the Orioles, emerging as an ideal high-leverage relief pitcher. He got off to an excellent start to the 2025 season with the Minnesota Twins, posting an ERA of 1.16 in 40 appearances before being traded to the Texas Rangers. He struggled in Texas to close out the season, posting a 5.25 ERA in 15 outings.

After taking a wrecking ball to their bullpen at the deadline last season, Helsley's arrival should give the Orioles an easy replacement for Felix Bautista, who is expected to miss most of the 2026 season. The Orioles also got back Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs. They could stand to use one more established arm, and Coulombe would be a bargain-bin addition at this point in the offseason.

The Orioles shouldn't ignore their need for a frontline starting pitcher, but if the offseason ends with more reinforcements for the bullpen, it wouldn't be the worst of outcomes.