The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly looking to trade a veteran starting pitcher as part of their efforts to reduce payroll.
The Baltimore Orioles should prioritize re-signing starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, as it represents their clearest path to a successful offseason—even if they don’t land any other notable free agents.
However, the situation is becoming challenging. With Blake Snell off the market after signing a five-year deal with the Dodgers, teams eyeing Burnes may escalate their offers, which would undoubtedly please his agent, Scott Boras.
The Orioles have also been linked to other quality free-agent pitchers, such as two-time World Series champion Nathan Eovaldi. But what happens if they fall short in securing top-tier starting pitching? What if a trade for the Chicago White Sox’s Garrett Crochet—a pitcher many insiders believe the Orioles are targeting—doesn’t materialize?
In that case, Baltimore might need to explore alternative options, such as acquiring a veteran pitcher. One potential candidate is Steven Matz, who the St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly shopping to cut payroll, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Matz, who is set to earn $12.5 million in the final year of his four-year, $44 million contract, could be a cost-effective addition. The 34-year-old has been average over the past three seasons, compiling a 10-12 record with a 4.47 ERA in 52 games (34 starts), along with 185 strikeouts and 57 walks across 197.1 innings. While injuries have hampered his effectiveness, he showed promise as a reliever in St. Louis, posting a 2.43 ERA over 33.1 innings.
Given his expiring contract and modest production, the Orioles likely wouldn’t have to sacrifice much to acquire him. If healthy, Matz could provide reliable innings, potentially delivering performances similar to his 2018 season with the Mets (11-10, 3.97 ERA, 160 innings).
Matz would essentially be a backup plan—a “break glass in case of emergency” option. However, if the Orioles miss out on Burnes, he might be a necessary fallback.
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