Orioles sign division rival pitcher to questionable price after previous misses

For the entire offseason, everyone knew that the Baltimore Orioles were looking for starting pitching. However, after months and months with little to no traction on the free agent market, all the Orioles had to show for that pursuit was a failed pursuit of Framber Valdez, as well as the admittedly intriguing Shane Baz trade. What they didn't have was the frontline starter that they coveted when the offseason began.

Wednesday night's signing is not a frontline starter, but he might be the best option that was available to them, as the Orioles signed Chris Bassitt to a one-year deal. However, what is more interesting (and perhaps concerning) is how much they have to pay him.

Orioles finally land Chris Bassitt, but it sure did cost them more than it probably should have

Given the options available were Zac Gallen, who is coming off a down year and who would require losing a draft pick to sign, and then a tier of veteran innings-eaters, landing Bassitt is a decent consolation prize. He has certainly shown some upside in the past, but his real value to the Orioles is in his ability to give them 170+ innings in 2026.

However, that seems like a pretty rich price tag for the soon-to-be 37-year-old pitcher. Inflation in the free agent market is a real thing, but paying that much for a guy whose ceiling is probably a mid-rotation starter is rough. That said, it is pretty close to being in line with Bassitt's contract projections when the offseason started, so it is what it is.

Unfortunately, the Orioles did not land the top of the rotation arm they wanted, given that this signing almost certainly takes them out of the bidding for Gallen, and calling him a frontline guy is pushing it anyways. That said, this was the type of move that Baltimore had to make at minimum. Otherwise, their offseason would have probably been viewed as a failure and a familiar mistake.