Orioles identify former NL Cy Young finalist as immediate pivot from Framber Valdez

The Baltimore Orioles are scrambling to address their most pressing need before the start of spring training next week. Many expected Framber Valdez to be the frontline starting pitcher the Orioles have been searching for most of the offseason, but the Detroit Tigers surprisingly took him off the market. With Valdez off the market, the Orioles seemingly have identified Zac Gallen as their backup plan.

In recent weeks, there's been a growing connection between the Gallen and the Orioles. Gallen was once a perennial Cy Young candidate in the National League, and The Baltimore Banner's Andy Kostka suggests that Mike Elias and Co. have been engaged with Scott Boras on a potential deal with the former Diamondbacks ace.

Framber Valdez out, former Cy Young finalist in as Orioles forced to shake up plans

There's an unusual number of established starting pitchers still available in free agency. Where the problem lies is that most of them can't be defined as a frontline starting pitcher. Justin Verlander is a future Hall of Famer, but knocking on the door of retirement, his arrival would be just another form of stability for the backend of the Orioles' rotation.

Lucas Giolito was once at the top of the Chicago White Sox's rotation, but he's been trying to recapture that success for the past several years. At first glance, Orioles fans may point to his 3.41 ERA last year with the Boston Red Sox as a reason for optimism, but his expected ERA was 5.01.

Other options like Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt exist, but neither of those two veterans offers the ceiling that Gallen has.

Of course, that is part of the problem with Gallen's free agency. His pitching metrics have trended in the wrong way for the last three years. 2025 was the tipping point with Gallen posting a 4.83 ERA in 33 starts last year. Gallen also has a qualifying offer attached to his profile, meaning the Orioles would need to part with a draft pick and international bonus pool money if they signed him. There's also a sense that Gallen prefers a return to the Diamondbacks.

Without the qualifying offer, Gallen would be an intriguing option for the Orioles. Though adding that in addition to his struggles, it may not be the answer that Baltimore is looking for. It's why an opportunity was missed when Valdez signed with the Tigers, leaving the Orioles with a major question ahead of spring training.