Despite falling short of the playoffs for a second straight year, the Orioles still have a window they should be trying to pry open wider. That’s why this offseason matters so much, and why the idea of shopping in the World Series market makes sense for Baltimore. If the goal is to build a roster with more October polish by 2027, there’s no cleaner way to add it than by targeting players who are already deep into the biggest stage.
Freddy Peralta looks like the clearest prize for Baltimore. The Orioles need to come away from this winter with an ace, and Peralta fits that bill whether they decide to bring back Trevor Rogers or go in another direction on the open market.
After a rough first half with the Mets, Peralta landed with Tampa at the deadline, made the adjustments asked of him, and got back to his All-Star level. He has thrown 16 innings in these playoffs and owns a 1.08 ERA, with more than 50 innings of postseason work set to be on his ledger by the time the World Series ends.
That kind of track record is exactly what a rotation leader looks like.
Garrett Cleavinger is a different kind of swing, but one that could still fit neatly into Baltimore’s plans. The Orioles already had a strong bullpen last season, so this doesn’t need to be a full-scale overhaul.
Still, adding one or two relievers who can lift the group’s ceiling is always worth considering. Cleavinger struggled through one of his worst seasons in 2026, but over the previous two years he had been a very effective arm out of the bullpen.
He has just one year of team control left, and he should be affordable in his final year of arbitration. With the Rays often willing to move on from relief pitching, Baltimore could afford to take the chance on a bullpen arm with playoff experience.
Then there’s Sal Frelick, the buy-low option in this group. His 2026 season was easily the roughest of his career, as he finished with a low-600s OPS and negative bWAR.
Even so, the broader picture still offers something appealing. Frelick had been trending upward through his first three seasons, and in 2025 he put up a mid-.700s OPS with a 2.9 bWAR.
He’s also a plus defender, which only boosts his case. The Brewers may have some room to move him, with three other starting outfielders potentially making him expendable, and Baltimore has the flexibility to part with a higher-level prospect without doing too much damage to its farm system.
The Orioles could use another outfielder, and betting on a player who has reached the playoffs every year of his career has a certain logic to it.