As many of us were watching the NCAA tournament yesterday, the Birds announced that they were bringing back right-hander Kyle Gibson on a one-year, $5.25 million contract, with an additional $1.525 million in performance incentives. “Gibby” was with the O’s back in 2023, where he did his job by eating a lot of innings, posting a 15-9 record with a 4.73 ERA across a league-leading 33 starts, logging 192 innings. The move reflects Baltimore’s ongoing efforts to address a rotation plagued by injuries while maintaining competitiveness in a tough American League East.
Gibson, a 37-year-old with 12 years of MLB experience, brings a wealth of durability and consistency to the Orioles.
Last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, he went 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA over 30 starts and 169.2 innings. His track record as an innings-eater—making at least 25 starts in every full season since 2014 (excluding the 2020 shortened season)—is a critical asset for a team facing significant pitching challenges.
The Orioles’ rotation has been hit hard this offseason. Grayson Rodriguez will begin the year on the injured list due to elbow inflammation, while Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are sidelined until at least midseason following major elbow surgeries. The departure of ace Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year, $210 million deal further depleted Baltimore’s pitching depth. To address these gaps, the Orioles had already signed veterans Charlie Morton (41) and Tomoyuki Sugano (35) earlier this offseason, but Gibson’s addition provides another layer of stability.
The contract’s incentive structure—$150,000 for every two starts from 14 to 24 and $125,000 for every 10 innings from 110 to 150—underscores Gibson’s role as a workhorse. However, with Opening Day looming on March 27, he won’t be ready immediately. Having stayed sharp by pitching against college lineups during the offseason, Gibson still requires a ramp-up period akin to spring training, delaying his debut. In the interim, the rotation is projected to feature Zach Eflin, Morton, Sugano, Dean Kremer, and either Cade Povich or Albert Suárez, with Suárez likely shifting to the bullpen once Gibson is ready.
This signing has sparked mixed reactions among fans and analysts. While Gibson’s reliability is undeniable, some question whether he moves the needle for a team with postseason aspirations. The Orioles, coming off a 91-71 season in 2024, boast a talented young core of position players but face scrutiny for not pursuing a top-tier starter to replace Burnes. Instead, GM Mike Elias has opted for cost-effective, veteran depth—spending over $100 million this winter on Morton, Sugano, and now Gibson—while preserving flexibility for future moves. Fans are also anxious that this could signal worse news for Rodriguez than we’ve heard thus far.
Gibson’s return also carries sentimental value. In 2023, he embraced a mentorship role with Baltimore’s young pitchers and was the team’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his community involvement. As the Orioles navigate a season of uncertainty on the mound, Gibson’s experience and familiarity could prove invaluable, even if his ceiling isn’t that of an ace. For now, he’s a pragmatic piece in a puzzle Elias continues to assemble.
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