The Orioles looked like they were swinging for the fences this offseason - and for a while, it felt like they were connecting on every pitch.
Pete Alonso. Ryan Helsley.
Taylor Ward. Shane Baz.
Andrew Kittredge. Zach Eflin.
That’s not just a list of names - it’s a signal. A signal that Baltimore isn’t content with last year’s last-place finish.
A signal that under new ownership, the club is ready to compete again in the American League East, where three teams punched playoff tickets last October. But with pitchers and catchers about to report to Sarasota, there’s a lingering sense that something’s still missing.
The Orioles have made real strides, no question - but is the offseason complete, or is there still one more move to make?
Let’s start with the big swing: Pete Alonso. A five-year, $155 million deal for one of the most consistent power bats in the game - third-most home runs in the majors since 2019 - is a clear statement of intent.
Alonso doesn’t just lengthen the lineup; he changes the entire dynamic. He takes pressure off the young core, especially Gunnar Henderson, and immediately becomes the centerpiece of a lineup that underwhelmed last season.
Then there’s Taylor Ward, brought in via trade in November. Whether or not the Orioles got maximum value in the Grayson Rodriguez deal is up for debate, but Ward fills a real need in an outfield that spent much of 2025 in flux. When Alonso arrived, Ward suddenly became the second-best offensive addition of the offseason - not bad for a Plan B.
Those two moves alone give the offense a much-needed boost. But the real key to Baltimore’s 2026 hopes still lies with the young position players already in place. Alonso and Ward can’t do it alone, but they can certainly lighten the load.
New manager Craig Albernaz inherits a roster that’s deeper than it was a year ago. There’s more flexibility, more viable options than there are everyday lineup spots - and that’s the kind of problem any skipper would love to have.
Still, there are fair questions about how the pieces fit defensively and whether the positional balance is quite right. But at least there’s a foundation to work with.
Now, let’s talk pitching - because that’s where the picture gets a little murkier.
The Orioles made a bold move to land Shane Baz from Tampa Bay, sending four prospects and a 2026 draft pick in return. Baz is still just 26, and while his injury history is well-documented (Tommy John surgery in 2022), he’s been healthy for the last year and a half.
Since July 2024, he’s made 45 starts and thrown nearly 246 innings with a 4.29 ERA. That’s a solid base, and the Orioles are betting there’s more upside to unlock.
With a high-90s fastball and a sharp knuckle curve, Baz still has the stuff that made him a top prospect. The Orioles see him as a potential front-line starter, even if they’re not asking him to carry that weight in 2026. He’s under team control through 2028, and if he stays healthy, he could be a major piece of the puzzle.
Then there’s Zach Eflin. Baltimore took a $10 million flyer on the veteran righty, who’s coming off a rough 2025 that ended with back surgery.
He’s not being penciled in as the Opening Day starter - not this time - but if he can recapture his 2023-24 form (3.54 ERA over 59 starts), he’s a valuable piece in the back half of the rotation. A lot depends on how his back holds up as he enters his age-32 season, but the risk-reward profile makes sense for a team that needs depth.
Add in a healthy Kyle Bradish and a resurgent Trevor Rogers, and the rotation looks a lot more stable than it did a year ago - especially considering Grayson Rodriguez never threw a pitch in 2025. But even with Baz, Eflin, Bradish, and Rogers, there’s still a sense that the Orioles are one arm short of a true playoff-caliber rotation.
Elias himself hinted at wanting to add a top-tier starter earlier in the offseason. So far, that hasn’t happened.
Baz and Eflin have upside, but they’re not aces - at least not yet. Bradish hasn’t topped 160 innings since 2023, and counting on Rogers to repeat his 2025 performance is a gamble.
There’s potential here, but also plenty of uncertainty.
That’s why the Orioles’ name keeps coming up in connection with Framber Valdez, the two-time All-Star lefty who’s still unsigned with spring training looming. There were also reports of interest in Ranger Suarez before he landed in Boston.
Owner David Rubenstein made it clear at Alonso’s press conference that the financial flexibility is there for another big move. Whether that move comes now or later remains to be seen - but the clock is ticking.
Valdez and Zac Gallen are really the last two free-agent starters who fit the mold of a true rotation upgrade. And while some might argue that back-end arms can be added midseason, the Orioles can’t afford to let winnable games slip away early - not in this division.
As for the bullpen? That’s where the biggest questions remain.
Yes, the addition of Ryan Helsley gives Baltimore a proven, two-time All-Star closer. And yes, Andrew Kittredge is back after being part of last summer’s trade-deadline sell-off. But this is still a group that lost four relievers in July - including Kittredge - and saw former All-Star closer Felix Bautista undergo major shoulder surgery that could keep him out for the entire season.
Yennier Cano, an All-Star in 2023, struggled badly in 2025 and is no longer a sure thing. Tyler Wells could be a weapon in the bullpen, but that only adds to the case for more starting depth. And while young arms like Kade Strowd, Dietrich Enns, and Rico Garcia showed flashes late last season, expecting them to carry high-leverage roles on a contender is a big ask.
The Orioles need at least one more reliable bullpen arm - someone who can take the ball when Helsley isn’t available and lock down late innings. The problem?
The free-agent market for relievers has thinned out considerably. Trades are always an option, but again, waiting until July might be too late.
To be clear, Baltimore’s offseason has already been a success in many ways. The team is better - on paper - than it was a year ago.
The front office has been more aggressive. And the Alonso signing, in particular, is a franchise-altering move.
But as spring training approaches, there’s still a sense that the Orioles are one move away from tying it all together. One more starter.
One more bullpen arm. One more exclamation point.
Because in the AL East, good isn’t good enough. You need to be complete.