Orioles rumors: Potential trade targets and fresh free agency updates

The MLB offseason is off to an admittedly slow start. Rumors are coming in hot but actual moves have been sparse. The O's have made minor league signings and several coaching changes but have yet to address the elephants in the room atop the rotation and in the middle of the lineup.

The O's pitching staff has been the talk of the town and there are several ideas floating out there at present. From the trade market side, the biggest name expected to be moved this winter is Garrett Crochet of the White Sox.

The Orioles have been listed as a potential suitor by multiple MLB insiders and experts, but no serious discussions seem to have taken place. The biggest knock against Crochet is that he's still relatively unproven and has yet to carry a full starter's workload in an MLB season.

Crochet threw 146 innings last year and was held back in the second half thanks to concerns about wearing out his arm. It was his first major league season as a full-time starter, so that's part of it. But given that the asking price is going to be sky high, you'd like to see a bit more stability if you've got to give up arguably the top prospect in baseball to get a deal done.

All eyes are on Mike Elias and the Orioles this winter

In addition to Crochet, the Orioles have recently been connected to the Cardinals as a potential landing spot for right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley. The O's do need another reliable bullpen arm or to but with Felix Bautista due back by spring training, it seems unwise to give up a haul to acquire another closer.

There will be options available on the free agent market that don't cost valuable roster talent. While Helsley is a great pitcher in his own right, the cost would have to be quite attractive for the Orioles to begin to seriously consider making a move like this.

On the free agent front, Jeff Passan reports that former Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta is likely set to decline the qualifying offer he received last week in favor of hitting the free agent market in search of a multi-year deal.

Passan notes that the Orioles need pitching depth and could be a potential fit for the right hander. The O's do need pitching depth but if Pivetta declines the QO, it'll cost a draft pick in order to sign him.

Couple that with the fact that Pivetta is a good, but nowhere near great, starter and it makes for a pretty risky move. His biggest ability has been availability with the Sox, having thrown 623 innings over the past four years combined. In that time, he's posted a 4.33 ERA with a strikeout rate just shy of 27%.

There's value in what Pivetta provides. It's just not clear that the Orioles need that kind of arm, nor is it likely that they'll give up draft capital to acquire a depth arm.