Proposed Orioles signing sees Baltimore land $37 million two-time All-Star, Gold Glove ace to replace Zach Eflin after injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Baltimore Orioles have started the 2026 season in a mediocre way, as they are 6-6. Although, it hasn't hurt them much, as the AL East is off to a slow start too, putting them in second place in the division. However,they just lost a key starting pitcher in Zach Eflin , who's out for the season with Tommy John surgery .
Because of that, the Orioles need a replacement for him if they want to keep their spot. Sports Illustrated's Patrick McAvoy predicts that the O's could sign a former star for a division rival in former New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman . Stroman last pitched for the Yanks in 2025, but started to really fall off from his usual self.
"There are still a few free agents out there looking for new homes, including two with AL East experience. Injuries keep popping around the league and sooner or later, they will shake up the free agent market…Stroman spent the last two seasons with the Yankees. He also spent the first five-plus seasons of his big league career as a member of the Blue Jays. Stroman is 34 years old and struggled in 2025. He had a 6.23 ERA in nine starts. In 2024, he was much better. Stroman had a 4.31 ERA in 30 appearances. From 2019 through 2023, he never logged an ERA above 3.95," McAvoy wrote.
For his career, Stroman has posted a record of 90-87, a 3.79 ERA, 1230 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.282 over 1497 innings pitched. He's a former two-time All-Star, and is even a great defensive pitcher with a Gold Glove to his name.
His two-year, $37 million contract with the Yankees ended in 2025, so the O's could get him for cheap on a veteran's minimum deal. That way if he can't find his old mojo, they could just cut him without eating a huge loss, and if he does well, opens him up to a more lucrative extension/contract with another team.
Maybe it was the putting on the pinstripes that got him rattled, as beforehand, he was a decent pitcher. If he can go to a lower-stress team like Baltimore, the O's may have a steal of a deal on their hands.
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