The Baltimore Orioles' 2026 campaign has begun with a 6-6 record, a middling start that still has them sitting in second place in a sluggish AL East. However, their rotation just suffered a significant blow with the news that starter Zach Eflin is out for the season following Tommy John surgery. To stay competitive, the O's will need to find a reliable arm to fill the void.

One intriguing possibility, proposed by Sports Illustrated's Patrick McAvoy, involves Baltimore making a savvy, low-cost move that would also serve as a jab at a division rival. The target? Veteran right-hander and former New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman.

Stroman, 34, is coming off a difficult 2025 season with the Yankees where he posted a 6.23 ERA over nine starts, but his track record suggests he could be a valuable reclamation project. The two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner was far more effective in 2024, logging a 4.31 ERA across 30 appearances. From 2019 through 2023, he was a model of consistency, never finishing a season with an ERA above 3.95.

For his career, Stroman owns a 90-87 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1,230 strikeouts, and a 1.282 WHIP over 1,497 innings. His two-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees concluded last season, meaning the Orioles could potentially sign him to a team-friendly, veteran-minimum contract. This low-risk, high-reward scenario would allow Baltimore to see if the seasoned competitor can rediscover his form, providing crucial innings and defensive prowess on the mound. Adding a pitcher with extensive AL East experience from his time with both the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays could prove to be a shrewd move for a team looking to solidify its playoff push.