O’s Lose Framber; Is Zac Gallen Now ‘Must-Have’ for Mike Elias? | Big Bad Morning Show

The nightmare scenario for Birdland just became a reality. After months of being linked to the Orioles, Framber Valdez has officially signed a massive 3-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, leaving Mike Elias empty-handed in the ‘Ace’ market. With pitchers and catchers reporting to Sarasota in less than a week, the pressure has reached a boiling point.

Is Zac Gallen now the only move left to save the 2026 rotation? We break down the fallout of the Framber deal, the $38M price tag Detroit paid, and why the Orioles can no longer afford to play ‘wait-and-see’ with Zac Gallen. Is it time for David Rubenstein to open the checkbook again, or is this rotation headed for disaster?

0:00 – Framber Valdez signs with the Tigers
0:50 – Zac Gallen is still an option for Orioles
2:14 – Caller Eli Debates Zac Gallen’s Value and Injury Trend
5:56 – Caller Zo Suggests Lucas Giolito
6:48 – Analysis of Lucas Giolito’s Role and Performance
7:26 – Final Thoughts and Media Reporter Criticism

How aggressive does Mike Elias need to be to add Zac Gallen or is there another option out there you want more on the Orioles?

24 comments

  2. We still need to move a player or two so I still think Elias is trying to work a trade for a starter that will also take care of our crowded carousel at 1B/DH.

  5. Enjoy your show…. I haven’t said it on your show before, but, since the beginning of the off season, I’ve wanted the Orioles FO to go after Sandy Alcantara and Zach Gallen (one on a trade and one from the Free Agents available this year). BUT, first off, I want to say – even now – that we’re SO much better off than we were last year. Bradish is healthy (or as healthy as anyone can be after major surgery 18 months ago). Rogers is so much better than we all thought he would be after we traded for him in ‘24. If he can be anywhere near as good as he was last year – for ALL of ‘26 – he’ll be great. I honestly haven’t followed Shane Baz in years past, but everyone thinks his ceiling is really high…we just need to keep him healthy, too. I love having a healthy Zach Eflin back. I honestly don’t think anyone knows how good he can be now that he has a healthy back…but we need to take care not to “over use” him at the beginning of this year, too. And finally, Dean Kremer will be a well-above average #5…exactly where he needs to be. But we need one more, at least, and I think Zach Gallen would be a great addition in the clubhouse. And I think our clubhouse will be a good fit for him, too, allowing him to have a “bounce back” year in ‘26. So, let’s go Os!! One more piece…

  6. Just play it out to the trade deadline. I really Think Tyler Wells can return to form and be that 3 ERA guy. Yes, he has trouble with the long ball, but I'll gladly take 1-3 runs through 6-7 innings.

  7. Another off-season, same story for the O's. Here comes the interview with Elias where he says…"We made a competitive offer and just came up a little short". Guarantee, the offer wasn't even close. Elias has to go.

  8. He should have been trying for Gallen a while back. Anyone with a brain knew Valdez didn’t want to come here. He can only go after one free agent at a time?

  9. Here’s the BIG difference between Valdez and Gallen – One was good last year and the other has been declining the last 3 yrs and had an ERA of almost 5 last season.

  12. I would rather see them sign Chris Bassitt. Doesn't require losing a draft pick, throws 170 innings per year, and is solid insurance when one or our penciled in starters gets hurt.

  13. Gallen has had a few seasons where he's had more strikeouts than innings pitched. I didn't notice Valdez ever doing that. Look at Gallen's entire career not just last year. Sometimes these people you're listening to don't know what they're saying.

  17. Mike Elias has screwed up badly. He has repeated the exact mistake that resulted in the disastrous 2025. I assumed he was too smart for that. Maybe he should bring back Sugano.

  22. I will never talk smack about elias and have never in the past. He has done a hell of a job building our team with the payroll we have. Last year did suck, but the free agency sucked too. Don't get me wrong, we need one more starting pitcher. But we're gonna have a great year this year, and I really look forward to it. Haters gonna hate

  23. Gallen would be a good addition – but there can be better options out there that can be had for trade over signing Gallen – it just depends what O's management values. As an O's fan, I would prefer to win now, over win later – O's signed Alonso, traded for Baz, so now O's management should stop any penny saving nonsense and go out and win now… Just Do It. This winning window with this group is only here for a short term and this window only gets shorter, so make the best of it.

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