With just 40 days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles have made it clear: they're not content with simply making noise-they're aiming to make a statement. This offseason has been one of the most active in recent memory for Baltimore, headlined by the splashy signing of slugger Pete Alonso.
But Alonso was just the beginning. The front office, led by GM Mike Elias, went to work, adding a mix of proven veterans and high-upside talent to a roster that’s already shown it can compete.
Let’s break it down. In free agency, the O’s brought in Ryan Helsley to bolster the bullpen, veterans Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin to deepen the rotation, and Leody Taveras to add speed and defense in the outfield.
On the trade front, they pulled off a pair of aggressive deals to land Taylor Ward and Shane Baz, along with reliever Andrew Kittredge and infielder Blaze Alexander. That’s not just tinkering around the edges-that’s a front office going all-in on a team that’s ready to take the next step.
And that’s what makes this offseason feel different. For years, Elias had a reputation for playing it safe with his top prospects, often opting to deal from the lower levels of the farm system for modest returns.
Even the blockbuster trade for Corbin Burnes, which helped solidify the rotation, came at a relatively low cost in terms of prospect capital. But the trades for Ward and Baz?
Those were bold. Those were “win-now” moves.
The Ward deal, in particular, turned heads. It cost the Orioles Grayson Rodriguez-once the crown jewel of their pitching pipeline and a projected future ace.
But after missing all of 2025 with shoulder and elbow injuries, the Orioles made the call to move on. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who’d envisioned Rodriguez leading the rotation for years to come, but it’s also a sign that Baltimore is willing to make hard decisions in pursuit of a championship.
The Baz trade was another swing for the fences. The O’s sent out four Top 30 prospects, including two of Elias’ top four picks from the most recent draft. That’s a significant shift in strategy-and a clear indication that the front office sees a real window to contend, right now.
So where does that leave the rest of the roster? Who’s truly untouchable in trade talks?
Gunnar Henderson is the obvious answer. A Top 20 player in all of baseball and the engine that drives this team, he’s not going anywhere.
Samuel Basallo, fresh off signing a $67 million contract, is another cornerstone. And with Alonso just arriving on a big-money deal, he’s firmly off the trade table.
But beyond that? Things get a little murkier.
Just a year ago, the idea of trading Adley Rutschman would’ve been unthinkable. But after battling injuries for the better part of 18 months-and with Basallo now locked in-the calculus may have changed. That doesn’t mean Rutschman is on the block, but it does mean the list of truly untouchable players might be shorter than expected.
Infielders Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday have both flashed All-Star upside, but neither has quite cemented themselves as indispensable. Westburg’s injury concerns have started to pile up, and Holliday, while immensely talented, has yet to find consistent footing at the big-league level. It’s hard to imagine the O’s parting with either unless the return is massive-but it’s also hard to call them completely off-limits.
The outfield picture is just as intriguing. Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers are the names to watch here. Both have the tools to become impact players, but the question is whether their upside is high enough to keep them out of trade talks if the right opportunity presents itself.
And then there’s the rotation. Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers have been steady, reliable arms-arguably the two most important pitchers on the staff.
They’ve earned the trust of the fanbase, and there’s a real desire to see them remain in Baltimore long-term. But as we’ve seen this offseason, sentiment doesn’t always drive decision-making.
If the Orioles believe they can upgrade, no one outside that core trio of Henderson, Basallo, and Alonso feels completely safe.
What we’re seeing is a franchise that’s evolved. The Orioles are no longer the rebuilding upstarts-they’re a team with real expectations. And that means every move, every trade, every roster decision is being weighed through the lens of October baseball.
The message from the front office is clear: the time to win is now. The Orioles are done waiting.