The Baltimore Orioles need pitching. They need it now, and they may need it even more in future seasons.
Ace Corbin Burnes, who has carried the Orioles rotation all season, is an impending free agent. Trade acquisition Zach Eflin, who is locked in for 2025, is on the injured list. And a slough of talented homegrown starters, led by Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish, are hurt too.
Because Baltimore is a young team with expectations to compete for World Series year after year, an uncertain pitching staff could quickly become an Achilles Heel. If Burnes isn't going to return in free agency, the Orioles will desperately need another ace.
Fortunately, one insider thinks they could be in play for such an ace. He just isn't currently playing his organized baseball in the United States.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com named the Orioles as one of his top free-agent fits for Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki if he comes to the states following the 2024 season.
"Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s move to the Majors caused a bidding war last offseason, and while the potential of Sasaki coming over from Japan would carry the same excitement factor, his age would prevent a similar free-agent frenzy," Feinsand said.
Sasaki could end up being the best pitcher to sign an MLB contract this winter. He's got a 1.95 in Japan's major leagues over the past four seasons, and he tops out at 102 miles per hour. His talent and age make him incredibly valuable compared to other pitching options.
Because Sasaki is not yet decided on whether he wants to be posted this winter, he was listed as a bonus pick in Feinsand's article, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Sunday that "several club executives" believe Sasaki could stay in Japan for another season.
But because Sasaki is 23, the Orioles could win the Sasaki sweepstakes without having to outbid the typical top spenders like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. International free agents under 25 are subject to the international signing bonus rules, that limit each team to a spending cap in the $5 million range.
Even though new Orioles owner David Rubenstein appears willing to expand the team's payroll, it's unclear whether they will ever become power players in the open market. Sasaki would be a true steal for Baltimore, a potential cost-controlled ace that would solidify them as contenders.
The question, of course, is whether Sasaki would choose Baltimore if he's coming at all. And those questions can only be answered by the young flamethrower in due time.
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