This star lefty would be the perfect addition to the Orioles rotation

The Orioles have some questions to answer this offseason, and the main one centers around the status of Corbin Burnes. Baltimore picked him up in a trade with the Brewers just prior to spring training in 2024. He delivered for the Orioles, going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts, pitching 194.1 innings, striking out 181 batters and posting an fWAR of 3.4.

But Burnes is now a free agent, and there's no guarantee he'll be back. Fortunately though, there are options for the Orioles. MLB Trade Rumors did a piece earlier in the week listing the top 50 free agents, and when they got to Max Fried, the Orioles were listed as a possible fit.

"Atlanta will probably be involved to a point, but the years and dollars being discussed will quickly escalate beyond their comfort zone," the article reads. "Other teams who could make a play for Fried include the Mets, Giants, Red Sox, Padres (who originally drafted him), Cubs, Orioles, Tigers, Angels and Dodgers."

Orioles listed as a potential fit for Max Fried

Fried, like Burnes, will not come cheap, so it won't exactly be easy for the Orioles to land him. A bidding war might ensue between multiple teams, and the Orioles, who don't always spend big on free agents, could find themselves priced out of the competition for the left-hander.

Still, if they can make it work, he would be a perfect addition to the rotation, and that would give them a star left-hander to build the starting five around. They didn't exactly get to reap the benefits of having John Means, who was one of three starters sidelined due to Tommy John surgery for most of the year.

The 30-year-old lefty went 11-10 in 29 starts with the Braves this season, pitching 174.1 innings and posted an fWAR of 3.5. He would instantly become the ace of the Orioles' staff if they were to pivot to him following the potential loss of Burnes.

He can pitch in the postseason and is the perfect workhorse that this rotation desperately needs. The only question is whether or not the Orioles will be willing to cough up the money and years that other teams like the Mets, Giants, Dodgers and Red Sox will likely offer him. That's where things get a little tricky.

But assuming they're able to get it done, this would be a huge move for the Orioles as they try to return to the playoffs in 2025.