The Baltimore Orioles were MLB’s most improved franchise in 2022.
They went from boasting a terrible 52-110 record in 2021 to an 83-79 mark this year.
They improved an incredible 31 games from season to season.
An amazing turnaround, which was fueled by their ability to develop great pitching.
Despite the step forward, the Orioles still have work to do if they want to make the playoffs in 2023.
They still finished fourth in the AL East, and to ensure a ticket to October, they will need to do better.
The good thing is that they have money to spend and, for the first time in seemingly ages, the willingness to spend it.
In fact, thay may be targeting a real difference-maker said to be pursuing a lot of money.
“Source: I’m hearing the Baltimore Orioles could be one team in on Jacob deGrom this winter,” Rob Piersall, founder of Mets Legends, tweeted.
Source: I’m hearing the Baltimore Orioles could be one team in on Jacob deGrom this winter.
— Rob Piersall (@RTPiersall) October 29, 2022
It’s hard to see the 34-year-old leaving Queens, as he can get virtually all the money he wants from Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Baltimore Is Allowed To Dream
However, it’s advised not to work under assumptions.
For example, we should not assume that the Mets will pursue him, or that the Orioles can’t pull a signing of this magnitude.
Both are unlikely, but not impossible: the Mets should pursue him, and Baltimore, in all likelihood, will fail to convince deGrom.
But what if they can?
What if you add deGrom to one of the youngest, most talented up-and-coming staffs in baseball?
That could make the Orioles contenders in the AL East.
He missed a lot of time with injuries, but deGrom had a rock-solid 3.08 ERA in 64.1 innings this year with the Mets, and was at 1.08 the year before.
If they can pull it off, it would be the signing of the offseason.
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