All offseason, the Baltimore Orioles made one thing perfectly clear: they were desperate for starting pitching. Every move, every trade rumor, and every free-agent whisper seemed to circle back to that one goal. Yet, as the months rolled by, the team’s efforts yielded very little. Their offseason highlight reel consisted of a failed pursuit of Framber Valdez and the intriguing—but still uncertain—Shane Baz trade. What Baltimore didn’t manage to secure was the frontline starter that fans had been dreaming about when the offseason began.
Wednesday night brought some relief, though it wasn’t the blockbuster solution Orioles fans were hoping for. Baltimore announced the signing of Chris Bassitt to a one-year deal. Bassitt isn’t the ace the team envisioned at the start of the offseason, but in the current market, he might just be the best option available. What has sparked discussion—and some concern—is the price tag that comes with bringing him aboard.
When you break down the alternatives, the decision makes more sense. Zac Gallen, the other high-profile option, is coming off a down year and would have required the Orioles to forfeit a draft pick, a costly proposition for a team looking to build sustainably. Beyond Gallen, the remaining options were a collection of veteran innings-eaters who could provide quantity but not necessarily quality. In that light, landing Bassitt feels like a solid consolation prize. His track record shows he can be effective, and his true value lies in providing Baltimore with 170-plus innings in 2026—a workload that gives the team some stability at a rotation spot that has been far too uncertain.
That said, the price for Bassitt is eye-catching. The soon-to-be 37-year-old isn’t likely to suddenly transform into an ace, and his ceiling remains that of a mid-rotation starter. Free-agent market inflation has pushed salaries higher, but paying such a premium for a veteran in that role is still a significant commitment. On the other hand, the deal is roughly in line with Bassitt’s projected contract from the beginning of the offseason, so Baltimore isn’t necessarily overpaying—it’s just the reality of today’s market.
For the Orioles, the implications of this signing go beyond just one pitcher. Securing Bassitt likely rules out pursuing Gallen, and while calling Bassitt a frontline starter might be generous, this move still addresses a pressing need. At a minimum, Baltimore needed to make a tangible move this offseason to avoid being viewed as stagnant or ineffective—a repeat of familiar missteps from prior years. With Bassitt in the fold, the team at least shows it’s serious about reinforcing its rotation, even if the ultimate ace remains out of reach.
In the end, this signing is both a cautious step forward and a reminder of the challenges the Orioles face in building a top-tier rotation. It’s not the flashy acquisition everyone dreamed of, but in a market with limited options, it’s a necessary move—a mix of pragmatism, strategy, and a bit of compromise. For fans, it’s a signal that the team is actively addressing its weaknesses, even if the results aren’t quite as headline-grabbing as hoped.