The Baltimore Orioles came into this offseason with a to-do list that was both obvious and quietly complicated. On the surface, the needs were clear: a closer to replace the injured Félix Bautista, reinforcements for a rotation thinned by injuries and free-agent exits, and a lineup that had more questions than answers after a year of underperformance and injury setbacks. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a roster still in flux-especially with young talent knocking on the door and a new manager in Craig Albernaz ready to put his stamp on the club.
The Orioles didn’t sit still. They’ve already made some noise with the additions of Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Ryan Helsley, and Andrew Kittredge.
Those moves addressed major concerns, but they didn’t close the book on this offseason. Let’s take a closer look at where things stand now-and what still needs to happen before Opening Day 2026.
First Base: Alonso Brings Power, But What Happens Behind Him?
Let’s start with the splashiest addition: Pete Alonso. The Orioles didn’t need a first baseman per se, but they absolutely needed what Alonso brings-raw power, everyday consistency, and veteran presence.
He immediately becomes the heart of the lineup, and his track record speaks for itself. The Mets’ all-time home run leader is built for the 162-game grind, and Baltimore now has a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat to anchor the offense.
The question now isn’t about Alonso-it’s about the logjam behind him. Ryan Mountcastle, Coby Mayo, and Samuel Basallo all bring first-base potential, and all three are talented enough to deserve serious consideration.
Basallo is a key part of the Orioles’ future, and he’ll be in the mix no matter what. But Mountcastle and Mayo?
Their roles are less clear.
Mountcastle has been a productive bat when healthy, but injuries and inconsistency have clouded his future in Baltimore. Mayo, meanwhile, is a rising prospect with big upside.
If the Orioles don’t have room for both on the Opening Day roster, they’ll need to decide whether to hang onto that depth-or explore the trade market. Either way, it’s a good problem to have, but one that will demand a decision sooner rather than later.
Catcher Depth: Is There Room for a Third?
With Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, the Orioles have one of the most exciting catching tandems in baseball. Rutschman is already a star-an on-base machine with power and leadership.
Basallo, meanwhile, is a rising slugger with the kind of left-handed pop that can change a game in one swing. If both are in the lineup most days-whether behind the plate or at DH-it raises an interesting question: do the Orioles need a third catcher?
It’s less about defense and more about flexibility. If Rutschman and Basallo are both in the lineup, a third catcher gives Albernaz the freedom to rotate them without worrying about losing the DH spot or being caught short in the late innings. Maverick Handley is a name to watch here, but the team could also explore outside options.
The challenge? The DH spot is already crowded.
Alonso, Mountcastle, Mayo, Ward, and even Tyler O’Neill could all be in the mix for at-bats there. That’s a lot of right-handed bats vying for limited space.
If the Orioles want to keep a third catcher, they’ll need to be strategic about how they build out the rest of the bench.
Rotation Needs: Depth Isn’t Optional-It’s Critical
Let’s be clear: the Orioles need more starting pitching. Not just a flashy name at the top of the rotation-though that would certainly help-but real, usable depth.
Right now, the list of returning starters includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young. That’s six arms with varying levels of experience and health, and one of them-Bradish-is coming off major elbow surgery.
Albert Suárez, who signed a minor-league deal, could be in the mix, and Chayce McDermott may shift to a bullpen role. But even with those two included, that’s only eight pitchers with starting experience-and last season, the Orioles used 16 different starters. The math isn’t hard: eight isn’t enough.
Whether it’s a top-tier free agent or a few reliable back-end arms, Baltimore needs to fortify this group. A long season-and potential postseason run-demands it.
Bullpen Outlook: Flexibility Is the Name of the Game
The bullpen got a boost with the additions of Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge, two proven arms who bring late-inning experience and high-leverage stuff. Add in Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, Yennier Cano, and Rico Garcia, and you’ve got a solid core of six relievers who could break camp with the big club.
Albert Suárez and Kade Strowd are in the conversation for the final spots, but don’t overlook the value of flexibility here. The Orioles have several arms with minor league options-McDermott, Anthony Nunez, Cameron Weston, and others-which gives the front office the ability to shuttle pitchers between Norfolk and Baltimore as needed.
That flexibility matters. If a reliever throws 40 pitches and needs a few days off, being able to swap him out for a fresh arm without losing a roster spot is a luxury. It’s also a reason the Orioles might not rush to sign another veteran reliever to a big-league deal-unless the right fit comes along.
That said, don’t rule out another bullpen addition. Injuries happen, roles evolve, and depth wins over 162 games. But any move will have to balance performance with roster flexibility.
Final Thoughts
The Orioles have already made some smart, aggressive moves this winter, but their work isn’t done. They’ve added power, experience, and late-inning stability-but the rotation still needs reinforcements, and the roster shuffle at first base and catcher is far from settled.
With a new manager in place and a young core ready to compete, Baltimore is building toward something bigger. The next few weeks could go a long way in determining just how high this team can fly in 2026.