With pitchers and catchers set to report next week, the countdown to spring training is officially on. Players participating in the World Baseball Classic are leading the charge, with the rest of the roster-particularly position players not involved in the WBC-expected to arrive no later than February 16.
Down in Sarasota, the Orioles’ spring home at Ed Smith Stadium is already drawing early arrivals. And that’s no accident.
The facility’s reputation as one of the best in the Grapefruit League continues to pay off, with players eager to get a head start on the season. No need to revisit the Fort Lauderdale days-this is the Orioles' present, and it’s a good one.
That said, the Orioles’ offseason has been more of a slow simmer than a rolling boil. They’ve yet to land a true frontline starter to anchor the rotation, and outside of Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, and possibly Albert Suárez, the bullpen hasn’t seen a major influx of talent either.
But the stove isn’t cold just yet.
Names like Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen are still hovering on the market. And depending on which direction the Orioles go-dominance or depth-the rotation could take on a very different look.
Either way, the bar isn’t set all that high. Last year’s rotation posted a 4.65 ERA, so even moderate upgrades could yield significant returns.
It’s worth remembering that spring training report dates aren’t hard deadlines for roster moves. The Orioles have a history of working the phones deep into March.
Just look back at recent years: Kyle Gibson didn’t sign until March 22, just after Kyle Bradish was moved to the 60-day IL. And the Corbin Burnes trade in 2024?
That came in on February 1-late by offseason standards, but still impactful.
Julio Teheran and Kolten Wong both inked minor league deals with spring invites as late as February 28. Neither made the big league roster, but Teheran’s two opt-outs might’ve set a record for persistence.
Danny Coulombe, meanwhile, arrived on the final day of spring training in 2023. That under-the-radar move turned into a bullpen gem-he posted a 2.56 ERA and 0.951 WHIP over the next two seasons.
The Orioles have made a habit of late additions. Jordan Lyles came aboard on March 12 in 2022.
Matt Harvey signed a minor league deal on February 17, 2021. Maikel Franco didn’t ink his deal until March 16.
Wade LeBlanc re-signed five days later. And Adam Plutko?
He was acquired from Cleveland for cash on March 27.
If you’re sensing a pattern, you’re not alone.
Who could forget Pedro Álvarez strolling into camp in March 2016? Or the flurry of moves in 2014 that turned Sarasota into a hotbed of late-winter activity?
That year, the Orioles signed Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon to a three-year, $5.575 million deal on February 17. He never threw a pitch for the big league club and was released a year later.
He didn’t even get a spring invite. One team official joked that his fielders needed hockey gear behind him.
Just two days later, Ubaldo Jimenez signed a four-year, $50 million deal-costing the Orioles their first-round pick. That one definitely made waves.
Then came Nelson Cruz. After speculation swirled around Kendrys Morales, the Orioles pivoted and landed Cruz on a one-year, $8 million deal on February 24.
He had turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Rangers. The Orioles gave up the No. 55 overall pick to make it happen, but the payoff was undeniable.
Johan Santana joined the team on a minor league deal on March 4. A big name with a big past, his comeback bid ended with a torn Achilles. Still, the buzz around his arrival was real-media scrums, press conferences, the works.
Looking back, Cruz was the crown jewel of those late-offseason moves. But 2018 made a strong case too: Andrew Cashner signed on February 15, Alex Cobb followed on March 21, and Colby Rasmus, Pedro Álvarez (again), Danny Valencia all joined in February and March.
Rasmus, for his part, delivered the curveball of the season-retiring before a July 3 game in Philly.
Some other names from the late-signing archives: Freddy Garcia in 2013 and Dontrelle Willis in 2012. Neither made much of an impact. Garcia was moved to the Braves after posting a 5.77 ERA, and Willis struggled in Triple-A before stepping away from the game.
Now, here we are in 2026, and the clock is ticking again. Valdez and Gallen are still out there. Could the Orioles really wait until spring training is underway to make a move of that magnitude?
History says yes. And if the past is any indication, don’t be surprised if the Orioles have one more trick up their sleeve.