5 rotation options Orioles must pursue in 2025 as Corbin Burnes insurance

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Baltimore Orioles v Cleveland Guardians / Ron Schwane/GettyImages
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Another day, another Oriole pitcher being in the news. This time, it is Corbin Burnes, who apparently wants to test free agency one time and one time only.

With that said, the Orioles need to consider their longterm options if Burnes is a one-and-done. He is a great addition to the rotation this year, but considering the O’s gave up a solid prospect, an up-and-coming pitcher and a comp pick for him, they probably want to avoid doing that year in and year out. And while they could go after a long-term option right now (i.e. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery or perhaps Michael Lorenzen), the team probably does not want to be tied up to a big contract beyond this season in case of the oft chance they are able to convince Burnes to stay in Baltimore.

That’s why they are better off waiting it out and starting fresh in 2025 if Burnes jumps ship. But who should they go after? Below are five names for the Orioles to consider as a Burnes replacement in 2025.

5 long-term Corbin Burnes replacements available in 2025 MLB Free Agency

Max Fried

Fried is a solid top-of-the-line rotation piece who will turn 31 before the 2025 MLB season. He has been an All-Star, an All-MLB First Teamer and a Gold Glover, and he also has a career ERA just three ticks above three. Fried also has a 70% winning clip.

Add all that to the fact that Fried is a World Series champion and a proven starter. His last two full seasons, Fried has also been top-10 in the majors in ERA. The issue is, he dealt with injuries last year, so people have questioned how injury prone he may be.

That said, Fried would be an excellent replacement if Burnes ultimately leaves. He has a lot of experience being a top rotation piece for a consistent playoff team, so he would bring a lot of experience to the young O’s roster. Plus, he would also give the Orioles another lefty in the rotation (or a new one if John Means does not re-sign either).

Walker Buehler

Buehler is another impending free agent starting pitcher with a World Series championship, All-MLB First Team and couple All-Star bids to his name. He has been in Dodger blue since his debut in 2017, and he has a career 46-16 record and 3.02 ERA.

Unlike Fried, however, Buehler has pitched one full season in the past four years, and he missed all of the 2023 campaign. When healthy, he is a great pitcher, and if he comes back to form in 2024, he will be a potential replacement for Burnes in 2025. But, of course, we will wait to see how 2024 pans out for No. 21.

Shane Bieber

Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award during the COVID-shortened season back in 2020. Since then, he has been an All-Star, but has also posted a couple of shortened seasons. He has also regressed in a few categories each year since winning the Cy Young Award, but sometimes that is to be taken with a grain of salt because of the injuries involved.

Either way, Bieber will be turning 30 during the 2025 season, and he is the first pitcher on this list who has pitched for an AL team. That extra familiarity in those American League parks (along with the fact that all three playoff series he’s pitched in have come against AL East foes) could be a big plus when considering bringing him in.

Oh yeah, and it is not like Bieber to Baltimore rumors have not swirled around before the Burnes trade.

Gerrit Cole

This is the longest shot of longest shots. The likelihood of Cole opting out of his hefty Yankees contract after this season and not being retained by Hal Steinbrenner adding an extra year to his deal is a true pipe dream, but hey, crazier things have happened. Even thinking about the possibility of signing the best pitcher in the game right now is the kind of positive thinking we all need. Who knows? Maybe the Yankees run out of money chasing Juan Soto and embarrassingly cut corners.

A starter from the 2024 O’s rotation

The Orioles are down two starters to begin the 2024 season, and when they come back, the team will have some decisions to make. In the meantime, however, there will be an opportunity for a couple of guys to make a case for being starters in the Orioles rotation moving forward.

And no, it is not like they would be top-of-the-rotation pitchers to replace Burnes directly, but with guys like Dean Kremer, Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish likely not going anywhere in 2025, bringing Tyler Wells or Cole Irvin back into the rotation is not out of the question, nor is giving a chance to Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich or Seth Johnson.

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