Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias tempered expectations about any major deal getting done at the Winter Meetings. He has used this time period to gather information to formulate their plans for the remainder of the offseason.

That was the case once again this year.

There were a few headlining deals completed, but nothing that substantially keeps the Orioles from addressing areas of need before 2024.

However, one starting pitcher that had been linked to them during the early portion of the offseason is now off the market.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Eduardo Rodriguez signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that he inked a four-year, $80 million deal that can be worth up to $100 million with a vesting option.

Baltimore is not normally spenders in free agency and handing out this much money to a pitcher that might be slotted into their No. 3 role probably took them out of the conversations, if they were ever involved beyond surface level interest.

Elias has stated they’re looking for a top-of-the-rotation type of guy this offseason and Rodriguez would have fit that mold alongside Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish.

Many reporters close to the team have speculated that if they do acquire an ace-level starter this offseason, it most likely comes via trade because of the plethora of top prospects that they have in their farm system, instead of openly spending in the free agency market.

There are plenty of elite trade options still available this offseason if that’s the route the front office wants to take, but they are now left with fewer pieces on the board following the signing of Rodriguez.