Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai are two of the most in-demand starting pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason. After a disappointing campaign in 2025, the Baltimore Orioles are expected to be quite busy this offseason.One of the key areas of the team that has been identified for improvement is the starting rotation. Having already signed Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal on Dec. 1, former New York Mets general manager Jim Duquette feels the organization should now take a look at the aforementioned aces."Everybody in the whole sport knows that the priority is starting pitching. So does (Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations) Mike Elias," Duquette said. "But sometimes, those opportunities don't present themselves right away. Opportunities that presented themselves right away were a middle of the order bat, okay, a leverage seventh-eighth inning guy, okay. Back end reliever, you got that."Now, that allows you to wait and try to get probably two starting pitchers. I don't think it's one. That's basically what they need. They need like a (Framber Valdez), or (Tatsuya) Imai, somebody like that to be in the top two or three of the starting rotation, like they have with (Trevor) Rogers and (Kyle) Bradish."Insider has his say on Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai's potential fit with the Baltimore OriolesIn an article published on Thursday, insider Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors offered his opinion on how Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai will fit in if the Baltimore Orioles succeed in acquiring them."Cease’s rather quick departure from the market (and to an AL East rival) only puts more pressure on the Orioles to find another frontline arm. Valdez or Imai would certainly fit the bill, albeit in two different fashions," Polishuk wrote."Valdez is a proven commodity at the MLB level, and is particularly a known quantity to Elias since Valdez joined the Astros organization as an international signing and then broke into the majors when Elias was still working in Houston’s front office. Imai is over four and a half years younger than Valdez and perhaps has more pure upside based on his results in Japan, but it remains to be seen if Imai can translate that success over to the majors."Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros - Source: GettyPer reports, Framber Valdez is projected to secure a contract in the range of $160 million, while Tatsuya Imai is projected to sign a $150 million deal.