Yankees Rumors: Division rival eyeing Ranger Suarez, Framber Valdez

The American League arms race has been hot this offseason, unless you're the New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox have made a couple of significant trades with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Toronto Blue Jays have spent more in free agency than any other club in the sport. The Baltimore Orioles have been active, even if not all of their moves make sense.

It's the Orioles who once again are threatening. The Yankees allegedly prefer to address their rotation issues via the trade market, though, thanks to the Orioles and the absolute haul they gave up to land Shane Baz, that has become an expensive proposition. After re-signing Zach Eflin, it appeared that Baltimore might be done adding to their rotation.

That would've been a great thing. If they stopped, they'd be counting on a bunch of upside plays like Baz pitching to the level is stuff indicates, Trevor Rogers staying both healthy and effective (something he's yet to do in his career), and a variety of other things going right.

The Orioles aren't resting on their laurels, though. The latest rumors have them in heavy pursuit of the top-two remaining free agent arms, lefties Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez.

Orioles eyeing Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez is a scary proposition for the Yankees

The Orioles will only sign one, but either hurler could be the top-of-the-rotation answer that completes the puzzle for Baltimore. Since 2022, Valdez has logged the second-most innings of any qualified starter (767 2/3) while posting the 17th-best ERA in the league in that span, coming in at 3.21.

Suarez isn't quite up to Valdez's level in terms of durability or performance, however, the 30-year-old isn't far off. He posted a 3.20 ERA in a career-high 157 1/3 innings in 2025, besting Valdez's 3.66 mark.

Either would look scary atop the Orioles' rotation, and such a signing would turn up the heat on Brian Cashman to finally get the car in gear.

Neither Valdez nor Suarez is a legitimate option for New York. With lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodón already in the fold, adding a third southpaw would be overkill. Not only that, but Valdez has some questionable marks against him that seemingly would make him highly combustible in New York.

Regardless, the Orioles putting together a good rotation should force the Yankees to get serious about adding to the lineup, be that by reuniting with Cody Bellinger, signing Bo Bichette, and/or pursuing some other high-end option.

It should also implore the Yankees to swing a trade for a starter of their own. Though the Edward Cabrera rumor sounded like a huge risk, if they find themselves wrestling away Freddy Peralta from the Brewers then they'd arguably wind up with a superior option than either Valdez or Suarez.

What is for sure is that if one of these top-of-market aces winds up with the Orioles and the Yankees continue their ho-hum tinkering around the margins, they'll be in for a world of hurt once the season gets underway, and could find themselves closer to the division's cellar than the crown when 2026 is all said and done.