The Orioles should target this Cardinals' right-hander to shore up their rotation

The Orioles' offseason was certainly a mixed bag. They signed some interesting free agents, bringing in Tyler O'Neill, Andrew Kittredge, Charlie Morton, and others. However, they also suffered some significant losses. Corbin Burnes signed with the Diamondbacks and Anthony Santander joined the Blue Jays. The 2025 Orioles are going to look a little bit different from the 2024 Orioles.

It's clear that their biggest need is starting pitching. The rotation isn't bad by any means, as along with Morton they have Tomoyuki Sugano, Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Chayce McDermott, Dean Kremer and Cade Povich. Plus, Tyler Wells will be back at some point this season, and so might Kyle Bradish.

But one injury could really test their depth, and for this reason, they should look at the trade market for a potential solution. The Cardinals are likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, as they're rebuilding. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, rival teams believe St. Louis will ultimately trade righty Erick Fedde.

Perhaps the Orioles should take a look at acquiring him.

Here's why the Orioles should target Erick Fedde to bolster rotation

Whether Fedde is traded now in spring training or at the trade deadline in July is anybody's guess, but if the Cardinals are serious about their "reset," now might not be a bad time to move him.

Thus, the Orioles come into play here. The Cardinals likely won't sell low on Fedde, so the Orioles might have to give up a good prospect or two, but it's worth it if they can boost their rotation.

He won't cost nearly as much as Dylan Cease, and while Fedde is a free agent at the end of the year he is only making $7.5 million in the final year of his deal. That should make him an attractive trade target.

Acquiring him might cost some decent prospects but not an extreme haul, and the Orioles could get a guy that can eat innings at a good price. Then, their rotation could be much improved. Maybe not to the degree it would be if Burnes was still around, but you would at least have several guys that can take the ball for you every fifth day and give you a good start.

Fedde wouldn't be the first Cardinal pitcher acquired by the Orioles in recent years. The two teams linked up for a Jack Flaherty trade at the deadline in 2023.

Fedde went 9-9 last year with a 3.30 ERA in 31 starts with the White Sox and Cardinals. He also pitched 177.1 innings.