Orioles’ offseason plans could be dictated by this young star’s recovery and outlook

The Baltimore Orioles seemed to be thin on starting pitching, and that was before budding star Grayson Rodriguez went down before even throwing a big league pitch. The 25-year-old underwent elbow debridement surgery in August, ending his season after he encountered setbacks on his road to recovery.

The club seemingly believes it can return to contention in 2026, but in order to make that happen, a lot hinges on Mike Elias going out and improving the starting rotation this offseason. Or does it? Despite a scary-sounding name, the surgery that was performed on Rodriguez's elbow is not an invasive one, and should have the hopeful ace ready to throw pain-free before spring training even gets underway.

If that's the case, and the Orioles are happy with his rehab progress, it could be a game-changer for the team's offseason plans as they look to rebuild their roster back into competitive form.

Grayson Rodriguez's recovery could drastically alter the Orioles' offseason plan of attack

Many assumed that Baltimore would be big game hunting this offseason for a starting pitcher. Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins, who survived the trade deadline without being dealt, has long been considered a likely trade target. A free-agent ace like the Houston Astros' Framber Valdez could've been on Baltimore's radar as well.

However, if Rodriguez is back and healthy and ready to take the next step, he could fill that void all by himself. The Orioles have seen Trevor Rodgers come out of nowhere and put up an ace-like 1.43 ERA over 16 starts this year. That hasn't looked like a fluke, and Rodgers could pair with Rodriguez for a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation.

From there, Baltimore has chips like Dean Kremer, who, while not a star, profiles as a reliable middle-to-back of the rotation starter, and hopefully a full healthy season from Kyle Bradish, meaning the club could shift its focus to lower-tier veterans to round out the back of the rotation.

That's good news. With the unfortunate injury to Felix Bautista likely forcing the Orioles to make a big splash in the closer market, as well as other holes that need to be filled, not having to spend big on an incredibly expensive commodity like starting pitching is a blessing.

These aren't the penny-pinching Peter Angelos Orioles of the past, but Baltimore has a budget, and a healthy and effective Rodriguez being back in time for spring training would allow the club to throw its resources around, filling more holes and ultimately getting more bang for its buck.

A lot remains to be seen, but there might not be a shiny new ace coming to Baltimore this offseason, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

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