Orioles Rumors: Baltimore eyeing a pair of starters who are right up Mike Elias's alley

Starting pitching is a clear need for the Baltimore Orioles for the umpteenth offseason in a row. What the team really needs is a front-of-the-rotation starter to slot the talent it does have in Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, and Brandon Young into the correct places in the pecking order.

If you listen to Scott Boras, the Orioles have the means to take a big swing this offseason, but will they? Boras is Tarik Skubal's agent, and the two-time Cy Young winner is set to meet with the Dodgers, Mets, Padres, and Blue Jays, as well as two other mystery teams. Could the superagent be hinting that Baltimore is one of those currently unknown clubs? Maybe, but that'd just be heavily reading between the lines at this point.

What is known is that the Orioles do have some interest in a pair of free-agent starters. They aren't Skubal or second-tier options like Michael King or Freddy Peralta, however. Instead, Baltimore has been connected to two arms who are much more in Mike Elias's lane: righty Nick Martinez and lefty Matthew Boyd.

Nick Martinez and Matthew Boyd seem to be the top end of the Orioles, Mike Elias's comfort zone

While Martinez and Boyd are better than the likes of Tomoyuki Sugano and Zach Eflin, two "additions" Elias has tried to sell us on in recent years, they're firmly in the Chris Bassitt tier of free-agent pitchers. That means they're guys in their mid-to-late 30s who could be solid mid-rotation arms, but could also be running out of gas.

Boyd is a crafty southpaw who turned around some serious early-career struggles to be an effective hurler in his later years. The highlight was his final year with the Cleveland Guardians, when he looked like an ace with a 2.72 ERA. The caveat is that it came over just eight starts, as Boyd has dealt with many injuries throughout his career.

His first year with the Cubs saw him put those to bed, at least temporarily, making 31 starts and tossing 179 2/3 innings while posting a 3.21 ERA. However, a biceps injury followed by a torn meniscus held him to just 22 starts this year, recording a 3.91 ERA in the process. Entering his age-36 season, it's unlikely that he gets healthier as the years go on.

Meanwhile, Martinez's profile has been raised dramatically after a stellar season with the Rays. The 36-year-old has previously worked as a high-end swingman, serving as both a starter and bullpen innings eater for years. However, Tampa put him in the rotation and never moved him, enjoying 31 starts and 180 innings of 3.10 ERA ball. Martinez also made four appearances (three starts) and threw 16 innings with a 2.81 ERA during the Rays' World Series run.

The concern here is that Baltimore would be buying high. This is likely the right-hander's last opportunity to cash in, and he's coming off a strong year. 2025 was not the same kind of sterling campaign for him, posting a 4.45 ERA while making 40 appearances (26 starts) and throwing 165 2/3 innings for the Reds.

There might not be that much difference between his 2025 and 2026 seasons, though. SIERA and xFIP are two great indicators of future performance, and in 2025 his 4.59 SIERA and 4.54 xFIP were in lockstep with the actual results he generated. Martinez posted a 4.63 SIERA and 4.47 xFIP this year, indicating that not all is as it seems.

This isn't to say that either pitcher wouldn't be a worthwhile addition. Boyd as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter behind a true ace would make the rotation a good deal stronger. Martinez, as a jack-of-all-trades guy filling roles in the rotation and bullpen as needed, would make the pitching staff deeper.

However, both guys are about to get paid, could face age-related regression, and if one or both are the Orioles' top addition this winter, it will be setting us up for more of the same frustration that we've experienced over the past few years.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow