4 external options the Orioles could pursue to replace Kyle Bradish and John Means to start the season

Just one week ago the Baltimore Orioles were getting ready to start the 2024 season with one of baseball's best starting rotations. Unfortunately, co-ace Kyle Bradish reported to spring training with a UCL injury that has landed him on the IL for an undetermined amount of time. To make matters worse, John Means is a month behind in his throwing program due to a setback and is also not expected to be ready in time to make his first start.

The Orioles do have some internal options to choose from, and Hyde has said that Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin have the inside track to those spots. As capable as those players are, putting both Wells and Irvin into the starting rotation significantly weakens a bullpen that also just traded away DL Hall. Mike Elias has said the Birds are still looking at pitching and if he wants to keep Wells and Irvin in the bullpen, here are four pitchers he could be looking at.

The Orioles could target Jordan Montgomery

The first name on my board for the Orioles to look at is Jordan Montgomery. After having bounced around the last two years playing for the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, Montgomery is now a free agent and looking for a new home and Baltimore would be a perfect fit. What left hander wouldn't want to pitch in Camden Yards?

Montgomery is familiar with the AL East after having spent parts of six seasons with the Yankees and is coming off a World Series championship with the Rangers. After struggling in New York, Monty has put together his two best seasons in the last two years. He had a career best 3.48 ERA with a career high 178.1 innings pitched in 2022, only to best both of those numbers with a 3.20 ERA in 188.2 innings last season.

Montgomery's numbers were good with St. Louis but he was great when he got to Texas. Coming to Baltimore would allow him to pitch in a great environment with a team that is ready to win now and has as much potential for continued greatness as any team in the majors.

He could slot in right behind Corbin Burnes and give the Orioles arguably the best 1-2 combination in baseball, and arguably the best overall rotation once healthy. Spotrac calculated Montgomery's next contract to be worth approximately $18.4 million per year. An Orioles offer in the range of 5-6 years $100-112 million could do the trick.