The Orioles may already be done for the year, and if Sunday’s finale gets washed away, the roster could start turning over a little earlier than expected.
Baltimore and New York split Friday’s doubleheader after the clubs pushed the games up to dodge the ugly weather rolling through the East Coast. The Orioles opened with a 10-2 thumping, then the Yankees answered in the nightcap with a 6-3 win.
Sunday’s game is still on the schedule, but rain is expected all day, and MLB is not eager to create a makeup game on Monday unless it has to. That leaves open the possibility that what happened on Friday was the last look at the 2026 Orioles.
If that’s the case, Trevor Rogers’ run in Baltimore may have ended with a decent final outing. Craig Albernaz limited him to four innings in Game 1, and the left-hander gave up one run while striking out four. He finished the year with a 4.03 ERA and is headed for free agency, though he has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Baltimore.
Leody Taveras may also have logged his last game in orange and black if the season ends without another trip to the field. The outfielder gave the Orioles a boost when they were scraping for production from that spot, even if the extra playing time later in the season became less helpful. He chipped in again Friday, going 2-for-4 with two RBI in the loss.
A few other veterans could be heading toward their final days with the club as well. Chris Bassitt pitched well after returning from injury, but he’ll enter the 2027 season at 38, and age doesn’t usually make the injury outlook prettier.
Andrew Kittredge has been a dependable bullpen option, but several of his peripheral numbers slipped this season, and Baltimore has plenty of relief arms to choose from. A pricey right-hander with recent time on the injured list doesn’t sound like a priority.
Ryan Mountcastle is another name to watch. He played only eight games this season because of a pair of serious injuries, and even though his contract includes a 2027 team option, it’s difficult to see the Orioles exercising it with the other first-base answers already on hand.
Most of the core should be back in 2027, or at least still under team control, which gives Baltimore a foundation to work from. But the roster still needs real work. If Mike Elias remains in place and brings back the same team aside from a healthy Jordan Westburg, the reaction around the warehouse would not be pretty.
The most obvious need is an impact outfielder. Colton Cowser can handle center field every day because his glove is that strong, but one of the corners needs to get better.
Second base could use more competition too, especially with Jackson Holliday not hitting his ceiling yet and Blaze Alexander not seeming like a fit for any one position long term. On top of that, Baltimore needs a rotation upgrade - somebody worthy of an Opening Day start - and a left-handed reliever who can work high-leverage innings.
That’s a long shopping list for one winter. But if Elias wants to keep this thing moving into 2028, he probably has to check off most of it.
In Other News...
Trevor Rogers Rumor Could Give Blue Jays An Orioles Edge
Trevor Rogers is already the sort of name that gets attention around the Orioles because his future could end up affecting more than one club in the division. Bleacher Reports Zach Buckley recently floated the idea that the Blue Jays will pursue the left-hander this offseason, projecting a four-year deal that could reach nine figures as Toronto looks to add another arm to a rotation that could use a jolt from the left side.
For Baltimore, the more immediate significance is less about the rumor itself than the market it suggests. Rogers has shown both flashes of quality and stretches of inconsistency in recent seasons, which is exactly the kind of profile that can drive a wide range of evaluations once the offseason opens. If Toronto is serious, the Orioles may end up watching a division rival chase a pitcher whose value is still being defined. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Already Face An Uncomfortable Craig Albernaz Question
Craig Albernazs first season in Baltimore has already turned into a referendum on how much a new manager can shape a team that came in with bigger expectations. The Orioles have slipped into a low spot in the division, and the frustration around the club has started to drift beyond the roster and onto Albernaz himself, with some analysts pointing to his in-game decisions as part of the problem.
Alex Cora and Rocco Baldelli are among the names now surfacing in the broader conversation about where the Orioles could go if they decide a different voice is needed down the road. That kind of talk is never comfortable this early in a managers tenure, but it reflects how quickly the temperature rises when a club falls short of the standard it set for itself. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Lineup Gamble Reignites A Frustrating Debate About This Team
The Orioles second game against the Yankees on Saturday brought back a familiar frustration, as a lineup with several less experienced players produced a mixed showing in a 6-3 loss. There were a few individual positives, but the bigger picture was the same one that has shadowed stretches of this season: inconsistent offense, shaky defense, and an overall feel that Baltimore never quite settled in as the game slipped away.
With the loss, Baltimore fell to 79-82, locking in a losing season even as its final place in the AL East still depends on what the Blue Jays do the rest of the way. For an Orioles club trying to balance development and competitiveness, the lineup choice only sharpened the debate about whether this team is prioritizing the right things at the right time, and whether the growing pains are worth it when the results keep looking the same. [Read more 🡒]