Mets veteran starter linked to Orioles after breakout 2024 season

The Baltimore Orioles will have some questions to answer in free agency this winter. They'll need some help on the pitching side.

Their starting rotation has received a major boost this season thanks to the acquisition of Corbin Burnes, who came over from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Burnes is a free agent at the end of the season, however, so the Orioles may have to replace him. They could also look into other upgrades in addition to bringing Burnes back.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post , Baltimore is showing interest in left-hander Sean Manaea.

Manaea has made 31 starts with the New York Mets this season. In those starts, the veteran left-hander is 12-5 with a 3.29 ERA.

The 32-year-old has also pitched 178 innings, striking out 183 batters and posting a 1.06 WHIP.

Manaea would certainly boost the Orioles' rotation. Having a reliable veteran with swing-and-miss capability and the ability to go deep into games is valuable, especially for a team that is ready to take the next step.

Baltimore secured a Wild Card spot after falling just short of their second consecutive American League East title. Manaea would certainly make them better in 2025.

Assuming they are able to keep Burnes or pivot to somebody like Max Fried or Blake Snell, they could have one of the aforementioned aces, Manaea, and Zach Eflin as their top three, which would be quite impressive.

The left-hander's market will be competitive after a breakout season. He'll likely seek a multiyear deal.

While the Orioles don't typically spend big on free agents, Manaea should be right within their preferred price range. It will be interesting to see if they can pull off a deal with the left-hander.

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