Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Three potential offseason targets for the Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles' collection of budding talent took a big step forward this season, propelling Baltimore to their first postseason berth since 2016 and on the cusp of an AL East division title. The roster is built to continue this trend in the years to come but the Orioles will still look to supplement their young core this offseason. 

Joc Pederson, OF, San Francisco Giants

Outfielders Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins hardly get the attention they deserve around the league, but the duo has become a formidable force in the Orioles lineup. Fellow outfielder Austin Hays and two of the team's younger players in Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser also displayed versatility in the outfield, so seeking an outfielder may not necessarily be a priority. But if the team wants to add offense, they'll need to play them somewhere, and the infield is even more crowded. 

Joc Pederson is reportedly happy in San Francisco, but should the club decide to move in another direction, that could make him a good fit for Baltimore. The left-handed outfielder has a history of showing power at the plate, averaging 23 doubles and 27 home runs per 162 games over his 10-year career to pair with his career .238/.337/.466 slash line. 

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Chicago Cubs

Developing their young starters has proven more of a challenge for the Orioles than their position players, though Grayson Rodriguez is determined to change that narrative. The team's rotation as a whole has been solid this season, but that shouldn't stop them from pursuing a veteran arm to help lead the group. 

Marcus Stroman started out the year strong, leading to plenty of speculation about him and the Cubs reaching an agreement on a new contract before the season concludes. The club refuted the idea and soon after Stroman landed on the injured list. He's expected to opt out but the market may look a bit different.  

Jake Diekman, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

The backend of Baltimore's bullpen has been a real strength this year, particularly with the emergence of Yennier Cano and Mike Baumann as weapons in front of Félix Bautista. Given the uncertain status of Bautista's elbow, it's safe to assume the Orioles will look at lengthening their bullpen this offseason. 

Jake Diekman is a standard veteran left-hander. Over parts of 12 seasons with eight different clubs, he holds a 3.83 ERA with 11.4 K/9. Diekman will be 37 in January but could still draw interest from multiple teams once he reaches free agency given the demand for left-handed arms. 

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