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.

Michael Lorenzen could be targeted by the Orioles

If the Orioles were to add either Montgomery or Snell they would have to make a large commitment that would hopefully pay off for years. If they wanted to simply patch a hole in the rotation they could look to Michael Lorenzen. The Orioles were linked to Lorenzen in trade talks during last season's deadline, and I talked about the O's signing him back in early November.

Lorenzen was a legitimate two-way player earlier in his career but he is now strictly a pitcher. He posted a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers last season before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. After pitching a no-hitter in his first start for his new team, Lorenzen faltered and struggled the rest of the season.

The Orioles could fit Lorenzen in as the team's fifth starter and either keep him in the rotation or use him in the bullpen when Means returns. Spotrac estimates Lorenzen will receive approximately $9.2 million annually in his next contract. I think the offer that makes the most sense for Lorenzen is 1 year $9-10 million with a team option for a second season.

Trevor Bauer is still a free agent

Trevor Bauer has made it known that he wants to return to the major leagues and he would love to play for the Orioles. I have previously discussed the idea of the Orioles signing Bauer, acknowledging the legal implications. Because of that I will not be going any further into his legal matters or reputation in this article, but will instead be looking strictly at Bauer the player.

There's no denying that Bauer has been very successful as a pitcher in the majors. He led baseball in 2020 with a 1.73 ERA, a 284 ERA+, and had baseball's lowest WHIP (0.795) and H/9 (5.1) while pitching two shutouts in only 11 starts. His 2021 season was also going very well when it was cut short. After being out of baseball in 2022, Bauer signed to play with the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League.

Bauer went 11-4 with two complete games and a 2.59 ERA in 24 appearances for the Bay Stars. His numbers for the season were very comparable to his teammate Shōta Imanaga, who signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. Bauer has said that he is willing to play for the league minimum ($740,000) because he just wants a chance to compete.

Orioles fans have learned to have faith in the reigning MLB executive of the year and we know that whatever Elias does is probably the decision that's best for the team. I look forward to what this season brings. Let's go O's.