Orioles suddenly have free agency leverage after Mets trade for Freddy Peralta

There was a time when trading for Freddy Peralta made the most sense for the Baltimore Orioles this offseason, but after paying a steep price for Shane Baz in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays already, it was hard to see the Orioles jump to the front of the line in the trade talks for Peralta. The Brewers found a taker in Peralta, and it may clear a direct path for Framber Valdez to land in Baltimore.

Peralta was traded to the New York Mets in an exchange that saw Milwaukee walk away from the deal with top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.

Williams is one of the best prospects in all of baseball, and Sproat is a pre-arbitration starting pitcher that the Brewers can immediately insert into their rotation. There's no doubt that the Orioles could have topped that offer, but it stands to reason that Mike Elias and Co. didn't want to decimate their farm system any further.

Addressing their need for an established starting pitcher was likely always going to be through the free-agent market, and the Mets may have just done Baltimore a huge favor.

Framber Valdez’s market seems to be playing right into the Orioles’ hands

Free-agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez's market hasn't shaped in the way that many expected. Valdez was viewed as the top starter available in free agency when the offseason started, but teams clearly have shied away from him.

Dylan Cease, Michael King, Ranger Suarez, and Tatsuya Imai all signed before Valdez, and it could speak to the fears that are surrounding his profile. There's no doubt that Valdez's profile should age well--he's not a power pitcher and thrives on generating weak contact--but he has the perception of being a bad guy in the clubhouse.

There's always a risk in signing an aging pitcher to a long-term deal, and it's multiplied when there are character concerns. The lucrative long-term deal may not be available to Valdez this offseason, and the Mets' bowing out of the bidding after trading for Peralta may be further proof of that.

The Orioles are now sitting in a prime position to land Valdez. It is clear that Valdez's suitors are dwindling, and with that, Baltimore should be able to land him on a deal that may max out at four years. There certainly are red flags in front of Valdez, but his arrival could signal the Orioles truly being ready to contend.