Orioles should definitely target this free agent arm before pursuing Justin Verlander

While there is still plenty of hope when it comes to the Baltimore Orioles signing a frontline starter (which is basically Framber Valdez or bust now), there are signs that that pursuit is not going as well as fans hoped. Not only have most of the better starters signed elsewhere after the Orioles proclaimed their desire for rotation help, but Baltimore traded for Shane Baz, which took some of the urgency out of the search. Combine that with their rumored interest in Justin Verlander, and you have a recipe for disappointment.

Look, Verlander is going to be a Hall of Famer one day, and that has been well-earned, and he would be a great asset in the clubhouse for what is still a very young Orioles team. However, the fact is that he is about to turn 43 years old, and no arm can survive in the big leagues for much longer than that. That Baltimore is willing to punt on a frontline starter in hopes that Verlander will turn back time one last time would be a massive risk for a prospective contender to take.

If the Orioles are entertaining adding a lesser, older pitcher for 2026 since the market didn't shake out the way they wanted, they should target Chris Bassitt instead.

Chris Bassitt would be a safer choice for the Orioles in 2026 than Justin Verlander with similar upside

No one is going to be surprised if Verlander plays one more season and pitches pretty well. The guy just knows his craft and how to attack hitters. However, his age and recent injury history present a real problem. If his ceiling is a guy that gives the Orioles a 3.50-4 ERA and stays healthy, but his floor is hurting himself walking into the locker room, why risk that, especially since there is no way that Verlander plays for peanuts?

Instead, Bassitt is in a somewhat similar mold, but comes with a safer profile. He is a full five years younger than Verlander, and while his production on the mound has ranged in the 3-4 ERA range the last five seasons, he has also averaged 176 innings a season over that same span. For an Orioles team that really just needs another reliable arm in their rotation (though a frontline starter would be nice), Bassitt is going to be cheaper and has a good chance of being better and more available.

One can understand Baltimore's impulse here, and they are likely checking all of their available options while also using a bit of gamesmanship when it comes to negotiations with Valdez. However, if a veteran arm on a short-term deal is what they decide they want, it needs to be Bassitt over Verlander.