MASN’s “Orioles Classic” on April 11, 2023 was a sharp reminder of how fast a roster can turn over. That night, Ryan Mountcastle piled up nine RBIs to tie the franchise record held by Eddie Murray and Jim Gentile, then sealed the 12-8 win over the Athletics at Camden Yards with a 456-foot grand slam to left field.
A lot of familiar names from that game are already gone. Gunnar Henderson was the only Oriole from that lineup who finished this season on the active roster.
Mountcastle was on the 60-day injured list, Adley Rutschman has been traded, and none of the five pitchers used that night - including Austin Voth, Danny Coulombe and Logan Gillaspie - are still in the organization. Henderson manned third base, while Jorge Mateo handled shortstop.
That kind of churn is why the Orioles’ 2027 picture already has so many moving parts. Without counting options, they have four pending free agents: Trevor Rogers, Chris Bassitt, Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin. Akin is working back from July elbow-reconstructive surgery and is likely headed for a two-year deal, similar to John Means, so he can give a team a full season in 2028.
It’s still possible Baltimore keeps all four. Rogers should draw plenty of attention on the market, assuming he turns down the qualifying offer from the Orioles if the sides can’t reach a deal early.
Bassitt filled the veteran one-year role this club often prefers, but his 13th major league season probably takes him elsewhere. Kittredge has already had a full Orioles journey - he came, left and came back again - and finished as the team leader with 11 saves.
The option decisions create another layer. Ryan Helsley could have tested free agency because of his $14 million player option, but after appearing in just 17 games because of two right elbow injuries, he is expected to exercise it.
Zach Eflin’s contract includes a $25 million mutual option, but he made one start before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Luis Robert Jr., claimed off waivers from the Mets, played in only three games before a hamstring injury; the Orioles hold a $2 million buyout on a $20 million option.
Left-hander Dietrich Enns, who spent most of the year at Triple-A Norfolk, probably isn’t in line for a $3.5 million option from the club.
Mountcastle is another big call. He fractured his left foot running to second base and then suffered a severe oblique strain while warming up for his first rehab game with Norfolk.
He got into only eight games, and the Orioles probably won’t pick up his $7.5 million option. A new deal at a lower price would be possible, but first base and designated hitter are already crowded.
Arbitration brings its own set of decisions. Of the seven eligible players, the Orioles seem set to tender contracts to four: Henderson, Félix Bautista, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser.
MLBTradeRumors.com projects raises for Leody Taveras to $3.7 million, with relievers Codi Heuer and Albert Suárez projected at $1.1 million. Free agency is likely for them.
Taveras finished with a .219/.288/.345 line in 139 games after making $2.1 million this season. His 56 RBIs were fourth on the team, and his six triples matched Henderson for the club lead. He also had nine sacrifice bunts, the most by an Oriole since Manny Machado had nine in 2013.
There were a few other numbers that stood out. Taveras became the eighth player with at least 15 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases before the All-Star break in his first season with the Orioles, and the first since Corey Patterson in 2006.
He also drove in seven runs in extra innings, third-most in the majors behind Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson with 10 and Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda with eight. Even with those flashes, $3.7 million could be too rich for an extra outfielder if Baltimore is trying to upgrade the group.
Behind the plate, Carlos Narváez and Yohel Pozo were the catchers on the final day of the season with Samuel Basallo on the concussion injured list. Both have minor league options, and neither is guaranteed an Opening Day job. Heston Kjerstad, Christian Franklin and Rece Hinds also will have to win spots, and Kjerstad and Hinds are out of options.
Kjerstad’s future is especially worth watching. The second-overall pick in the 2020 draft didn’t get called up until September, appeared in only 11 games and started just four of them. He would have had five starts if not for the Sept. 27 rainout, and the Orioles could look for a trade partner.
Jeremiah Jackson doesn’t appear to have a clear path either, with Blaze Alexander healthy and Westburg potentially available. On the pitching side, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz and Brandon Young can be penciled into the rotation, while Helsley, Bautista and Yennier Cano are set to return to the bullpen. Rico Garcia, who led the club with 75 appearances, should be back too.
Two of the more encouraging surprises from 2026 were Josh Walker, who posted a 2.08 ERA in 31 games, and Garcia. Alex Hoppe, acquired from the Mariners in the Taylor Ward trade, enters camp as a favorite to make the club. After that, it’s on him.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Raised The Pressure On Craig Albernaz Fast
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There are plenty of names tied to that next phase, including Luis Robert Jr., Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday, but the pressure extends beyond any one player. The bigger issue is how quickly Baltimore wants to firm up its plans for 2027 while weighing changes in both the front office and on the field, with one particularly notable roster call hanging over the winter. [Read more 🡒]
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Then came the kind of season that can change how an organization views a young player. Irish put together a breakout 2026 offensive campaign and earned a spot in the MLB Futures Game during the All-Star break, only for his year to come to an abrupt halt after a left meniscus injury. For the Orioles, the next chapter now is less about the promise they already saw and more about how his recovery shapes what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Keep Landing In The Same Pitching Debate Again
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The debate is less about whether the Orioles need help and more about where that help might come from, and that is where the speculation gets interesting. Pitching remains the clearest path forward, with potential trade targets and broader roster maneuvering all part of the picture, even if nothing is close to being resolved yet. For a front office that has already shown a willingness to keep adjusting, the next round of decisions could say a lot about how aggressive Elias plans to be when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]