MLB free agency: One player each team should sign

MLB free agency: One free agent each team should sign

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Royals First base Eric Hosmer (35) during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on September 24, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Jerome Lynch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays works the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles: Alex Cobb

Predicting how much money the Orioles will have available to spend is one of the more difficult tasks each offseason. Owner Peter Angelos has his own hard and fast rules, and is only willing to make concessions when he feels like it. Chris Davis was handed a $161-million contract before the 2016 season, but the industry assumption was that the money was only available for Davis. A deal with center fielder Dexter Fowler fell apart at the last second because the Orioles were unwilling to give an opt-out clause.

The starting rotation has been the most difficult part of the team for GM Dan Duquette to build while working within the constraints of his owner. The Orioles are notorious around the league for their strict physicals, to the point where it is a running joke. Angelos has also been extremely hesitant to spend on pitching, forcing Duquette to pick from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to filling out his rotation. Plenty of promising young prospects have gone on to find success with other organizations almost immediately upon leaving the Baltimore farm system.

Baltimore’s starting pitching ineptitude came to a head this year, and they are staring at a black hole entering the 2018 season with only two established starters under contract, Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. Bringing back struggling starter Chris Tillman on a short-term deal seems like a logical move for the O’s, but they must spend on two more outside names if they hope to make the most out of Manny Machado’s last year under contract.

Jake Arrieta, the best starter in this year’s weak free-agent class, is out of the question. The Orioles will be forced to look further down the list at someone like Alex Cobb. It’s anyone’s best guess if Cobb will be able to pass an Angelos physical though, as he missed all of 2015 and most of 2016 with Tommy John. Two years out from the surgery, Cobb may be ready to resume throwing his split-finger fastball, which was his best pitch. Either way, the Orioles have to suck it up and spend big on starting pitching this winter.

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