McFarland is a candidate to temporarily replace Chris Tillman (shoulder) in the O's rotation to open 2017, SB Nation reports.

EDGE Analysis

Initial reports suggest Tillman won't be on the shelf long, but the left-handed McFarland could have a chance to put himself on the team's radar for more starts later in the year. He's made 121 appearances in his four-year career (4.27 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 198.1 innings), yet only two of those outings have been as a starter. McFarland has experience in a rotation, though, as he started 129 games in the minors since 2008. The 27-year-old McFarland will be the underdog in the position battle against Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson.