The Orioles’ season ended in the most Orioles way possible: with rain wiping out the final game and the clubhouse clearing out before anyone could take the field. The result was a 79-82 finish, a record that closes the book on a year the organization clearly expected to look very different after an offseason that brought in Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley and included trades for Taylor Ward and Shane Baz.
Alonso did his part. He wrapped up with 43 home runs and 113 RBIs, both tops in the American League, and he played in 162 games in back-to-back seasons until the nor’easter left him one short.
Baz, meanwhile, did not finish with 16 losses to lead the majors. Andrew Kittredge wound up edging Rico Garcia for the team lead in saves with 11.
The weather also left Baltimore with a little piece of odd history. The Orioles last played 161 games in 2008, when Game 1 of a Sept. 6 doubleheader was washed away by Tropical Storm Hanna and they went on to play the nightcap.
Now the focus shifts to the annual end-of-season media session, with president of baseball operations Mike Elias and manager Craig Albernaz scheduled to address reporters later today. Some of what they’re asked about will stay vague, either because the Orioles want it that way or because those decisions simply haven’t been made yet.
The coaching staff figure to come up, even if there’s no realistic chance of getting a firm answer on Sept. 28.
Elias may also have to revisit his reminder that there’s no advantage to discussing contract-extension negotiations.
The postmortem is going to sound familiar. Injuries will be a major part of it, along with some younger players regressing or standing still, shaky defense and an offense that too often failed with runners in scoring position. Elias will have to own that too, since he built the roster.
There could be more front office changes beyond Matt Blood’s departure and Sid Mejdal’s new title and responsibilities, though Elias already touched on that in his last dugout scrum. For now, though, that remains unresolved.
Health will be another area to watch, especially with the question of whether anyone is headed for surgery. Kyle Bradish, for example, has his sports hernia. Others may simply need rest.
The bigger business issue is looming over everything. If baseball shuts down on Dec. 1, it could speed up or slow down some roster decisions.
Once the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires, teams can’t sign or trade for players. The Winter Meetings could get canceled again, along with the Rule 5 draft, although the deadline to set the 40-man roster and protect eligible players still arrives in November.
That matters because anyone added to the 40-man roster can’t play in the minors during a lockout, per union rules. Right now, the Orioles’ 40-man is full, and players on the 60-day injured list have to be added after the World Series. That group includes Helsley, Kyle Bradish, Colin Selby, Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill.
Keegan Akin and Zach Eflin are also on the 60-day. Akin is set to become a free agent, which clears his spot. Eflin’s deal includes a $25 million mutual option for 2027, though that likely puts him back on the market.
Mountcastle would become a free agent if the Orioles don’t pick up his $7.5 million option. Luis Robert Jr. is also in the mix after coming to Baltimore and appearing in three games before a hamstring injury, with a $20 million club option and a $2 million buyout attached.
Other pending free agents who could come off the 40-man include Kittredge, Trevor Rogers and Chris Bassitt. Rogers looks likely to receive the qualifying offer, which would net the Orioles a compensatory draft pick if he turns it down and signs elsewhere.
And then there’s the Rule 5 picture. If the Orioles don’t protect them, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Aron Estrada, Michael Forret, Nestor German, Levi Wells, Juaron Watts-Brown, Braxton Bragg, Patrick Reilly and Kiefer Lord would be exposed. Catcher Creed Willems was left unprotected last year and escaped the draft.
There’s usually at least one surprise when the 40-man gets set. Reed Trimble was the surprise last season, Luis González in 2024 and Logan Gillaspie in 2021. Félix Bautista wasn’t exactly a lock back in ’21 either, given his walk rates in the minors.
For now, here’s where things stand with the current 40-man, excluding the 60-day injured list players.
Pitchers: Chris Bassitt, Félix Bautista, Shane Baz, Yennier Cano, Luis De León, Cameron Foster, Rico Garcia, Trey Gibson, Codi Heuer, Yaramil Hiraldo, Alex Hoppe, Andrew Kittredge, Anthony Nunez, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, Cam Sanders, Albert Suárez, Josh Walker, Grant Wolfram, Brandon Young, Yosver Zulueta.
Catchers: Samuel Basallo, Carlos Narváez, Yohel Pozo.
Infielders: Blaze Alexander, Pete Alonso, José Barrero, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jeremiah Jackson, Coby Mayo.
Outfielders: Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Christian Franklin, Rece Hinds, Heston Kjerstad, Luis Robert Jr., Leody Taveras, Reed Trimble.
Some of those names can clearly be squeezed off if Baltimore needs room.
And because this is baseball now, the next season is already lurking. The 2027 campaign is scheduled to open March 25 against the Rays at Tropicana Field, with the home opener set for March 29 against the Blue Jays. A lockout could change all of that.
In Other News...
Orioles Face A Samuel Basallo Decision That Could Reshape Their Offseason
Samuel Basallos future has become one of the more intriguing questions hanging over the Orioles as the offseason approaches. The 22-year-old has long been viewed as a potential part of Baltimores next wave, but injuries have repeatedly interrupted his progress, and his time behind the plate has been limited by concussions and shoulder issues.
What makes the decision especially delicate is that the Orioles still have to figure out how best to use him if they want to get the most out of his bat without putting his body in the same spot again. His major league offense has not yet matched expectations, and Baltimore is expected to look at other catching options this winter, leaving Basallos role very much in play as the club weighs whether he can still be a catcher or needs a different path. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Bradish Offseason Update Matters More Than Orioles Fans Expected
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Trey Gibson Just Put The Orioles On Notice For 2027
Trey Gibsons latest outing was the kind that tends to linger in a front offices memory. On Sept. 23, the 24-year-old right-hander carved through the Toronto Blue Jays for 6 scoreless innings, a sharp snapshot of the kind of starter the Orioles have been hoping he could become as he worked through a season that had plenty of bumps along the way.
Gibsons 2026 season was not a straight line, with a rough June and a return trip to Triple-A Norfolk before he settled in and began showing better control and more swing-and-miss stuff late in the year. The Orioles do not need to crown him based on one start, but the ingredients are there for cautious optimism, and his September work gave the organization a reminder that he could still factor into the rotation picture down the road. [Read more 🡒]