The Baltimore Orioles are in urgent need of a starting pitcher to fill the void left by former ace Corbin Burnes, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason. While the team added Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, neither is a true replacement for Burnes. Adding to their challenges, the Orioles will also be without Grayson Rodriguez and Trevor Rogers at the start of the season.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa recently made a bold prediction that Baltimore could trade former top prospect in a deal to acquire a much-needed starter. “GM Mike Elias doesn’t like trading his top prospects—who does?—but it feels like Kjerstad might be more valuable to the Orioles as a trade asset than as a bench player,” Axisa wrote. “For this bold prediction, I’ll say Elias finally gives in and trades Kjerstad for a starter, specifically one with team control beyond 2024. Who that will be, I don’t know, but there are some intriguing options in South Florida.”
The idea makes a lot of sense. If Baltimore pursues an ace-caliber pitcher like Sandy Alcántara or Dylan Cease, Kjerstad would likely be a key piece in the trade package. Although he may not have a clear path to regular playing time in Baltimore, the 26-year-old outfielder remains a highly talented prospect. Known for his elite raw power, Kjerstad is one of the most dangerous hitters in the Orioles’ farm system, making him an attractive trade asset for teams looking to add offensive firepower.