The Baltimore Orioles are currently looking to fill three vacant rotation spots on the team. Due to their abundance of riches in their relief corps, they may be willing to trade Brad Brach for a starter.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, Brach’s name has been one that has been mentioned throughout the MLB Winter meetings by a number of clubs:

Brad Brach is extremely popular on the trade market #orioles

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017

Brach, 31, has been a part of the Orioles bullpen since 2014, where they went the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals. In four seasons with Baltimore, Brach has put up impressive numbers as the setup man, going 26-13, with a 2.74 ERA and 305 strikeouts. He has also shown the ability to close games, totaling 18 saves in 2017. He posted an ERA of 3.18 with 70 strikeouts and 26 walks in 68 innings.

He is set to become a free-agent after the 2018 season, if Baltimore doesn’t agree on arbitration. Brach is currently set to make $3.05 million with the Orioles next season.

Meet the Mets

One team that Brach has been linked to is the New York Mets. On Monday, it was mentioned that the Mets would look for relief help in exchange for the services of Matt Harvey. Though Darren O’Day could possibly fit the profile of the type of reliever that the Mets want, Brach could also fit that mold.

Aaron Yorke of SB Nation’s Mets site, Amazin’ Avenue, mentioned the possibility of Brach playing for the club:

Brach, a native of New Jersey, has been an excellent relief pitcher in the four years since the Orioles traded for him. Last year, he posted a 3.18 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 26 walks in 68 innings while serving as the team’s closer for most the campaign while Zach Britton was injured. Like Harvey, Brach will become a free agent at the end of the 2018 season, but he would also give New York’s bullpen an instant boost, perhaps even competing with Jeurys Familia for the closer role.

If Baltimore were willing to swap contracts with the Mets for their former ace, the Orioles would take on an additional $2.075 million in salary. However, they would be able to fill a hole in their starting rotation and still maintain a strong bullpen, with the likes of the aforementioned O’Day, Mychal Givens, Richard Bleier, Miguel Castro, Donnie Hart and Britton.

(Photo Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Kyle Andrews

Born in Norfolk, VA, raised in the Baltimore area and currently living there. Originally pursuing a degree in exercise science at McDaniel, Andrews became interested in sports writing. He was the sports editor of McDaniel's newspaper in 2014 and became an English major, and hasn't looked back since.

Bylines at Fox Sports 1340 AM, Bullets Forever, Baltimore Beatdown, Underdog Dynasty and many other sites.