The Orioles’ offseason is already living on borrowed time, and the GM Meetings are offering only the faintest hints of what might come next.
With a lockout expected to hit in about 20 days, the usual slow-burn business of baseball has a sharper edge this year. The meetings in particular have taken on extra weight because the winter meetings may never happen if the owners move ahead with the shutdown. That has pushed more familiar faces into the room, including agent Scott Boras, who turned up yesterday and did what he always does: talk, joke, and pressure teams he thinks are being too stingy.
Normally, whatever gets started at the GM Meetings doesn’t show up in the standings until weeks or months later. This time, there may not be any months later to work with. If a deal is going to come together from these conversations, it has to happen soon, and the next 20 days are the window that matters.
For Orioles fans, that creates a familiar kind of tension. Mike Elias knows the roster needs work before next season, and he also knows the lockout will slam the door on a big chunk of the offseason. At the same time, he has a reputation for doing things his own way, and that has not always produced the cleanest results.
One name floating around the meetings is Randy Arozarena, who was mentioned among Boras clients in this year’s free-agent class. Boras has been complimentary of the Orioles before, even in years when his clients never end up in Baltimore, and that theme is part of the chatter coming out of the week.
There’s also some trade talk to sort through. Elias said the club’s core players are “very unlikely” to be dealt, though that kind of line never really shuts the door completely. After Adley Rutschman was traded, it’s hard to treat anyone as untouchable, and Elias has shown he can always decide to make a move that helps the present while also adding for the future.
If you want a deeper dive into the pitching side, there are also a couple of under-the-radar arms worth tracking: an 11th-round pick and an undrafted free agent from this year’s class.
Elsewhere around the Orioles world, David Rubenstein’s dry humor from last month has become a talking point again with the labor situation hanging over everything. And there’s more free-agent speculation out there too, including a look at potential Orioles targets that focuses especially on starting pitchers.
Tonight brings the MVP awards, and maybe Pete Alonso picks up a couple of tenth-place votes or something like that. He probably deserves a couple.
On the Orioles’ side of the awards scene, the BBWAA ballots didn’t bring much. No Orioles pitcher got a Cy Young vote this year, while former Oriole Bryan Baker received one fifth-place vote, which left him tied for eighth place.
The BBWAA also handed out Reliever of the Year awards in both leagues for the first time, and no Orioles relievers got any votes there either. Baker finished third in that voting.
Today also marks a notable Orioles anniversary. On this date in 1980, Steve Stone was named the AL Cy Young winner after going 3.23 with 250.2 innings over 37 starts. His 25 wins likely helped him edge Oakland’s Mike Norris in a voting era that did not always reward the best pitcher on the field.
Among the former Orioles born today are Charlie Morton, Sammy Sosa, and Don Johnson.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Got A Telling Sign About Their Pitching Priorities
Emilio Pagns decision to leave Cincinnati for a one-year, $11 million deal with the Detroit Tigers is the latest reminder that the bullpen market is moving quickly, and clubs looking for experienced relief help have to be ready to act. For the Orioles, that matters because their offseason priorities have already been shaped by how they want to support a pitching staff that has to keep getting deeper and more reliable.
Baltimore also brought back Mike Shildt as upper-level coordinator of instruction, likely on a year-to-year basis, a move that underscores how much the organization still values continuity in its pitching development pipeline. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes decision that can say as much about a teams immediate plans as any free-agent signing, even if the full picture of how the Orioles will attack the market is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Alonso Gave The Orioles Exactly What They Needed Except This
Pete Alonsos first season in Baltimore gave the Orioles plenty to feel good about, and the recognition has followed. He was named to the 2026 All-MLB First Team for the second time, a nod that fits with the kind of year he put together at the plate. Alonso also led the American League in home runs and RBIs, and he was a finalist for the leagues Silver Slugger Award, a reminder that his impact went well beyond the usual power-hitting reputation.
For the Orioles, there was even more to like because Alonsos production translated into immediate value in a lineup that needed it. He ended up winning Baltimores Most Valuable Oriole Award after his first season with the club, which says plenty about how quickly he became central to the teams identity. The only lingering question now is how much of that success can carry over as the Orioles look to build on it from here. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Offseason Plan Is Starting To Create A Real Roster Debate
At the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Mike Elias and Jared Banner gave Orioles fans a clearer picture of how the offseason is shaping up, and it starts with continuity. Mike Shildt is set to return as upper-level coordinator of instruction, while the major league coaching staff is expected to stay together unless someone else comes calling. Elias also said the club may use spring training to give some infielders looks in the outfield, a sign the roster could still be flexible even if the front office is leaning toward keeping its core intact.
The bigger takeaway is that Baltimore does not sound eager to move any of its key pieces, even as Elias acknowledged the bullpen remains a concern. He also addressed the recovery timelines for Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday, two names that matter to the Orioles infield picture and the clubs broader planning. With the staff largely settled and the trade market sounding quiet, the real debate now is how much room there is for internal shuffling before spring training answers some of the questions. [Read more 🡒]