Orioles Make International Splash with Record Signings, Boost Spring Broadcasts for 2026
The Orioles didn’t make any major roster moves yesterday, but that doesn’t mean it was a quiet day in Birdland. Two pieces of news stood out - one that reflects the long-term vision of the front office, and another that gives fans something to look forward to this spring.
Orioles Go Big in International Market
For a franchise that was once nearly invisible on the international scene, the Orioles just made one of their boldest statements yet. The team announced its 2026 international signings, and the headline is hard to miss: four players signed deals worth more than $1 million, including a franchise-record $2.3 million bonus for shortstop Jose Luis Acevedo.
Acevedo was one of several highly ranked prospects to join the Orioles’ system. In fact, four of the signees landed in both Baseball America’s top 50 and FanGraphs’ top 59 international rankings.
MLB.com went even further, placing five of them in its top 50. That’s not just a good haul - that’s a signal that Baltimore is no longer tiptoeing into the international market.
They’re diving in.
The players are young - really young. Of the four highlighted by the team, three are 17 years old, and one is just 16.
That’s the nature of the international signing game, especially in Latin America, where top talent is often identified and developed before they’re old enough to drive. It might feel surreal to hand out seven-figure bonuses to teenagers, but this is the system, and the Orioles are finally playing it with purpose.
We won’t see these players at Camden Yards anytime soon. Most international signees spend years developing in the minors, and many never reach the big leagues.
But this is how a sustainable contender is built - by stacking talent at every level. It’s taken time for GM Mike Elias and his staff to build out the infrastructure to compete internationally, but this week’s signings show that the pipeline is now fully operational.
If the Orioles want to keep their farm system among the best in baseball, this kind of aggressive international investment has to become the norm, not the exception.
Spring Training Coverage Gets a Major Boost
In more immediate news, the Orioles announced they’ll broadcast 20 spring training games this year on MASN - a massive leap forward from recent years. For context: that’s more televised games than the combined total from the past three springs (which added up to just 19). Add in the 12 games that will also hit the radio airwaves, and fans will have more access to spring baseball than they’ve had in a long time.
That’s a win for fans who’ve been eager for more consistent spring coverage. The increase comes in the wake of the Nationals’ departure from MASN, which had previously limited the Orioles’ broadcast flexibility. With that restriction gone, the Orioles are finally able to give their spring slate the exposure it deserves.
There is one caveat: 19 of the 20 televised games will be called remotely from Baltimore, rather than on-site in Florida. It’s not ideal - there’s no substitute for being at the ballpark - but it’s still a big step in the right direction.
Josh Lewin Joins the Broadcast Booth
As part of the spring training announcement, the Orioles also revealed their 2026 broadcast team. There’s only one change: veteran play-by-play voice Josh Lewin is joining the radio crew.
Lewin, who previously worked for WBAL in the 1990s and has called games for several MLB teams, will serve as a supplemental voice alongside Brett Hollander and Ben Wagner. It’s a solid addition that brings even more depth to an already strong broadcast team.
Quick Hits
- The Orioles claimed left-hander José Suárez off waivers from the Braves. While he’s not the flashiest pickup, Suárez could be a useful bullpen option - and with the Orioles’ relief corps needing some reinforcements, every arm counts.
- Orioles fans might remember January 16 for a different reason: on this day in 2016, the club agreed to a seven-year, $161 million deal with slugger Chris Davis. It remains the largest contract in franchise history and, thanks to deferred payments, Davis will be on the payroll through 2037. His post-contract performance is well-documented - no need to rehash it here - but it’s a reminder of how high-stakes long-term deals can be.
- A few birthday shoutouts are in order: Mark Trumbo turns 40 today. He led the league in homers in 2016 after being acquired in a trade, though his follow-up seasons didn’t quite match that peak.
Trumbo also became an unlikely scapegoat for ending the Orioles’ beloved pie-in-the-face celebrations - a claim he later denied. Also celebrating today: former Oriole Eider Torres (43) and Jack Cust (47), known for his brief but memorable stints in orange and black.
The Orioles aren’t making splashy headlines with blockbuster trades or free agent signings - at least not yet - but the moves they are making reflect a front office that’s thinking long-term while still giving fans reasons to get excited in the short term. Between the international signings and expanded spring coverage, there’s plenty to keep an eye on as we inch closer to Opening Day.