Orioles Hit Reset After 2025 Collapse, Add Pete Alonso and Craig Albernaz in Bold Offseason Moves
The Baltimore Orioles came into 2025 with expectations sky-high. After back-to-back playoff appearances, the hope was for a third straight October run.
Instead, the season unraveled early and never recovered. The Orioles didn’t just stumble - they fell hard, finishing last in the AL East with a 75-87 record.
In a division where the margin for error is razor-thin, that kind of collapse is unforgiving.
The AL East remains a gauntlet. The Yankees and Blue Jays duked it out for the division crown all year, with Toronto ultimately snagging the top spot thanks to a better head-to-head record after both teams finished 94-68.
Boston wasn’t far behind either, posting an 89-73 mark and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Even the Rays - without a true home ballpark - managed to stay ahead of Baltimore.
The Orioles, however, aren’t sitting idle. General Manager Mike Elias responded to the 2025 disappointment with a pair of moves that signal a clear intent to turn the page - and fast.
First, the Orioles hired Craig Albernaz as their new manager. Albernaz arrives with coaching experience from both the Giants and Guardians, and he brings a fresh voice to a clubhouse that clearly needed one. His energy and perspective could be a much-needed spark for a team that looked flat for most of last season.
But the real headline-grabber? Baltimore landed Pete Alonso in free agency, prying the power-hitting first baseman away from the Mets. Alonso leaves Queens as the franchise’s all-time home run leader, and he’ll now anchor the heart of a lineup that already boasts serious young talent.
With Alonso joining forces with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, the Orioles have the makings of a lineup that can do real damage. Alonso’s presence doesn’t just bring power - it brings experience, leadership, and protection for the young core. That kind of middle-of-the-order threat can elevate everyone around him.
Unfortunately, Holliday’s impact will have to wait a bit. The 22-year-old underwent surgery on a broken hamate bone in February and is expected to miss the start of the season. The hope is he’ll return by late April or May, but as with any injury, there are no guarantees.
In the meantime, the Orioles will look to fill the void at second base with a bit of internal competition. Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson are the top candidates, and both will get a shot during spring training.
Alexander, 26, has logged 135 big league games over the past two seasons. He’s a versatile right-handed bat who hit .230 with 7 homers and 28 RBI in 74 games for Arizona last year. Defensively, he’s been all over the diamond - third base, second, even some outfield - which gives the Orioles options.
Jackson, on the other hand, is the upside play. He started 2025 in Double-A but forced his way up the ladder with a scorching bat, hitting .377 with 11 homers and 22 RBI before getting the call to the big leagues.
In 48 games with Baltimore, he slashed .276/.328/.447 with 5 home runs. Most of his time came in the outfield and at third base, but he’ll be in the mix at second while Holliday heals.
Then there’s the Ryan Mountcastle situation. A mainstay in Baltimore’s lineup for six seasons, Mountcastle was limited to 89 games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury. He still managed to sign a one-year deal to stay with the club, but with Alonso now locked in at first base, Mountcastle’s role is in flux.
He could see time at designated hitter - and his power certainly plays there. Mountcastle has averaged 24 home runs per 162 games in his career, including a 33-homer campaign in 2021. But with free agency looming after the 2026 season, he’s also a prime trade candidate, especially if the Orioles find themselves in the playoff hunt and looking to make a move.
Mountcastle remains a well-liked figure in the clubhouse, and moving him wouldn’t be easy. But baseball is a business, and if Alonso locks down first base like expected, Mountcastle’s future in Baltimore may be limited.
Bottom line: the Orioles are trying to put 2025 behind them - fast. With a new manager, a franchise-altering free agent signing, and a young core that’s still brimming with potential, Baltimore isn’t rebuilding.
They’re reloading. And if things break right in 2026, they could be right back in the thick of the AL East race.