The Baltimore Orioles have been the busiest team in baseball this offseason. After finishing with a 75-87 record and last in the American League East in 2025, the Orioles bolstered their roster by adding power hitter Pete Alonso, strengthening their bullpen with Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge, trading Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward, and acquiring Shane Baz via trades. They also appointed Craig Albanaz as their new manager.
Last weekend, the Orioles signed veteran right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year deal worth around $10 million, adding him to a rotation that already features Baz, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Trevor Rogers. Despite the heavy offseason movement, the Orioles and their baseball operations chief, Mike Elias, clearly did not expect to be in this spot entering 2026. The rebuild following an MLB-worst 368 losses from 2018 to 2021 left the team needing significant free-agent acquisitions, making this offseason activity essential rather than optional.
Unlike many rebuilding teams that often seem complacent, Elias and his team have taken proactive steps rather than waiting for prospects to develop. The question remains: has Baltimore done enough, or is there more work to do?
Their biggest remaining need is a true frontline starter. While Baz and Eflin are solid additions and the rotation shows promise with Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish, the rotation lacks an unquestioned ace who could elevate the staff. Available top free-agent starters like Zac Gallen, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suarez, and Framber Valdez could fill this role, but after signing Eflin, the Orioles might not pursue further pitching additions immediately. Injuries remain a concern across this rotation, and performance regression, particularly with Rogers’ home run rate, is a risk.
The bullpen also has room for improvement. Helsley and Kittredge could form a strong late-inning duo if Helsley regains his prior form, but there’s a need to strengthen the middle relief as some current pitchers show decline. With all top free-agent relievers already signed elsewhere, the Orioles may look at former players like Danny Coulon, Seranthony Dominguez, or Pierce Johnson to bolster this area.
Contract extensions are another important offseason consideration. While prospects like Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westberg may be difficult to retain long-term due to their representation, securing players like Grayson Rodriguez—who has only one year before free agency—and Adley Rutschman could be strategic for the future.
Financially, the Orioles’ payroll has been steadily rising since David Rubenstein’s ownership began in August 2024 but remains in the mid-tier range, ranking 17th in 2025 and predicted to be 18th in 2026. The team surprised some by retaining Ryan Mountcastle, whose $8 million salary is high for his role, suggesting a trade could free up salary space. Despite offseason spending, the Orioles remain under the league average payroll, indicating room to invest further, especially in pitching.
Looking at Baltimore’s offense, many young hitters have struggled recently. While Gunnar Henderson remains strong and some depth exists, key hitters like Lutchman and Heston Jerstad have stalled, and the homegrown offensive core has underperformed. Alonso and Ward provide much-needed right-handed power, balancing a usually left-heavy lineup, but offensive consistency remains a question mark for 2026.
Projections from FanGraphs place the Orioles as the eighth-best team in MLB, just ahead of division rival Boston. With four AL East teams ranked in the top nine, the division promises to be challenging, often decided by injuries and consistent performance. The Orioles’ offseason moves put them back in the playoff conversation, but failing to make the postseason would raise serious questions about the rebuild’s success and the organization’s direction.
Fan Take: The Orioles’ aggressive offseason activity signals a serious bid to end their rebuilding phase and return to contention, a development that adds intrigue to an already tough AL East. Baseball fans should watch closely—Baltimore’s ability to add that frontline starter and sustain offensive production could shape not only their future but also the balance of power in the league.
