Are the Orioles on the verge of becoming a formidable playoff contender? Not quite yet. With the recent developments orchestrated by Mike Elias, the president of baseball operations for the Orioles, there is certainly reason to feel optimistic as we count down the weeks to spring training, which kicks off in just six weeks.
However, it’s still too early to fully indulge in playoff dreams. The Orioles undeniably possess enough skill within their roster to escape the bottom of the AL East standings, but a significant part of that talent was responsible for their disappointing season in 2025, which was marred by injuries and underwhelming performances from key players who are essential for the team's success.
Elias, alongside controlling owner David Rubenstein, has fulfilled their commitment to increase the team’s financial investment by signing star slugger Pete Alonso to a lucrative $155 million contract, along with a substantial $28 million deal for prospective closer Ryan Helsley. Additionally, they have allocated $10 million towards the rehabilitation of starter Zach Eflin and made sacrifices in minor league assets to secure pitcher Shane Baz. They also traded starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to acquire power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward.
This offseason has already proven to be productive, and the front office remains hopeful about bringing in another top-tier starter and bolstering the bullpen further. If these additions come to fruition, the prospect of recapturing the thrilling success of the 2023 season will appear promising. Nonetheless, achieving a strong playoff performance hinges on the Orioles steering clear of the misfortunes that turned the 2025 season into a major letdown for fans who believed the franchise had the potential to be a consistent contender for championships.
The changes made by Elias to the coaching staff may prove to be just as crucial as the new player acquisitions. New hitting coach Dustin Lind and assistant Brady North must unravel the mystery behind Colton Cowser's struggles at the plate after his return from a severe hand injury sustained at the beginning of the previous season. If he can revert to his impressive rookie form while excelling defensively in center field, it would significantly enhance the revamped batting lineup.
Although Gunnar Henderson had a commendable season in 2025, he fell short of the offensive firepower that had placed him in the running for the American League MVP award in 2024. A general decline in his performance was somewhat expected following his outstanding numbers from the previous year; however, it was evident that his play was affected by the left-handed dominant Orioles lineup's overall struggle against proficient left-handed pitching.
The arrival of Alonso and Ward addresses this concern, making it less likely for opposing teams to exploit left-handed matchups against the Orioles in the upcoming season. This improvement should also allow Cowser and rising star Jackson Holliday to perform closer to their full potential.
The infusion of additional offensive and pitching talent is anticipated to provide the Orioles with more resilience against the injury woes that plagued them from mid-2024 through the latter half of 2025. Nevertheless, both Elias and new manager Craig Albernaz still have work to do in solidifying a reliable bullpen, especially after trading away key players such as Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, Andrew Kittredge, and Bryan Baker during the middle of last season.
Kittredge has been brought back into the fold, and he is expected to join Yennier Cano and Helsley as the primary late-inning options. The roles of potential starters Tyler Wells and Albert Suárez remain to be determined as the team approaches Opening Day.
Moreover, despite the depth improvements, the Orioles will need to ensure that Jordan Westburg, Wells, and Kyle Bradish can maintain healthy seasons. Fans are also hoping that Tyler O’Neill can avoid the injury list long enough to participate in at least 100 games.
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