I think I already posted what my line of thinking is but to sum up.......Why would Rodon go back to the Giants when he just opted out? Mets and Yankees have spent a bunch of money already. Padres have a bunch of big contracts already and may not be keen to add another. The Dodgers could be a player because they always are.
At some point, the big money teams do stop handing out free agent contracts. If there was ever an opportunity for the Orioles to show that the times are changing, this situation is ripe for it.
Again, I'm not thinking that has any reasonable chance of coming to fruition but again, the opportunity is there.
Players opt out and return to their original team often. Its no different than a player reaching free agency and then re-signing. Anthony Rizzo, for example, has done just that already this offseason. Its just a negotiating stance. Maybe they're interested, maybe they're not, but ruling the Giants out because Rodon opted out doesn't make much sense.
Mets and Yankees can always spend more money and have rotation needs. Mets are lost DeGrom, Walker, and Bassitt from their rotation, so signing Verlander and Quintana doesn't get them back to even yet alone ahead. The Yankees lost Taillon, so they have a hole to fill.
Padres are throwing tons of moeny around. Reported huge offers to Turner and Judge.
I hope the O's sign Rodon, but there are tons of other big market teams involved. It won't be a situation where he falls into their laps.