Bleacher Report got Orioles' most urgent trade deadline need all wrong

The trade deadline is approaching fast, and the Baltimore Orioles are in a strong position to buy. At 49-28, Baltimore sits in second place in the American League East behind the New York Yankees, 1.5 games back of first place (but tied in the loss column).

Yet as the deadline approaches, the Orioles find themselves significantly in need of some pitching reinforcements, as both Kyle Bradish and John Means are out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Starting pitching is an obvious need for this team. However, for whatever reason, Bleacher Report believes that despite a hole-filled rotation gasping for air, the O's have a more glaring need. B-R deemed bullpen help as the team's most urgent need, even with a back-end trio of Craig Kimbrel, Yennier Cano, and Bryan Baker.

Bleacher Report has O's trade deadline needs all wrong

While the Orioles could definitely use some relief help (and will get some), starting pitching is the most glaring need.

The Oakland Athletics' asking price for young closer Mason Miller is also going to be extremely high. He's controllable through 2029, and it's not certain if Baltimore will meet the asking price for Miller. Instead, they'll likely dabble in adding rental relievers, while spending their bigger chips at the top of the pitching market.

Baltimore has a strong front of the rotation in Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, but Cade Povich went from a wild card call-up to a mid-rotation anchor in the blink of an eye. Some reinforcements are needed.

If they choose to go for starting pitching instead of bullpen help, they could go a few different ways. They could check in with the St. Louis Cardinals about right-hander Kyle Gibson, who pitched with Baltimore last season. The Chicago White Sox will likely also be willing to listen to offers for right-hander Erick Fedde. Perhaps even Jack Flaherty, who Baltimore picked up from St. Louis last year, could be an option (though it didn't go fantastically the first time around).

Flaherty is currently 5-4 with a 2.92 ERA with the Detroit Tigers this season in a bounce-back campaign; despite being a rental, his price is rising by the day, as the deadline pitching market continues to get scarcer, losing Jesús Luzardo and Patrick Sandoval in recent days. The O's have a tough challenge ahead of them in adding to the rotation at the right price, but the current landscape demands that they go for it, regardless of what Bleacher Report believes they'll target.