No one would argue that the Orioles still have a few obvious holes on their roster. They need at least one more starting pitcher and additional veteran help in the bullpen, and a concrete solution in center
field would be nice too. Based on his quotes throughout the offseason, Orioles EVP Mike Elias seems keenly aware of each of those shortcomings. But at least some of those may be lower on the priority list than simply building a deeper roster heading into 2026.
The Orioles were bit hard by the injury bug last season. Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, and Tyler O’Neill all missed significant time. Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers had extended IL stints. Kyle Bradish didn’t debut until late in the year following Tommy John surgery. Félix Bautista suffered another serious injury. And the recently-departed Grayson Rodriguez was never able to get back on the field at all. It seemed like the team could never catch a break.
This experience seems to have affected Elias. He has referenced the injury crisis several times since the season has ended, and it may have impacted his approach to this offseason.
For example, the decision to tender a contract to Ryan Mountcastle was one done with depth in mind. The 28-year-old is due a raise to $7.8 million in 2026. That’s pretty hefty for someone that has seen their home run total decline four consecutive years and played in just 89 games last season. And with both Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo expected to get games at first base moving forward, it’s tough to see where Mountcastle fits.
But as we learned last season, nothing is guaranteed. Someone could get hurt in the spring. Having a competent bat like Mountcastle—overpriced as he might be—to step in at DH or first base is preferred to scouring the waiver wire or hoping for a low stakes trade to pan out.
It also gives Elias more maneuverability throughout the winter. Having Mountcastle in tow means that Mayo could now be available as the centerpiece of a trade. If the Orioles had instead non-tendered the veteran, that type of a deal may not even be on the table.
The team has a similar situation in the outfield. Theoretically, they are full up. Cowser, O’Neill, Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, and Leody Tavares give them five options to cover the grass. And the 40-man roster includes some wild cards in the form of Heston Kjerstad and Reed Trimble. It’s not a bad mix. But apparently, Elias is still seeking upgrades.
This seems to be a case of the Orioles keeping their options open rather than making it a top priority. Center field is where the O’s really need help, but there aren’t too many options to be had unless a surprise trade emerges. Would they be able to entice the Twins to part with Byron Buxton? A deal like that is complicated given his injury history and no-trade protection. Even still, it’s interesting to know that Elias is working the phones.
Adding an everyday option to the outfield mix at this point could mean that one of Cowser or Beavers becomes available in trade talks. If the Orioles are going to get a big starting pitcher without forking over a massive contract they may be forced to part with one of their young position players.
Speaking of which, Elias’ reported pursuit of free agent pitchers also indicates a desire to provide options up and down the roster. The Orioles have been connected to just about every available major starting option the last two months, and Elias himself has said that “[The Orioles are] trying to find, whether it’s top or front or top half of the rotation, all those buckets…We’re trying, and there are guys out there and we are in pursuit of every one of them.”
As far as concrete rumors, it is understood that the Orioles have long liked Ranger Suárez, and that Orioles executives met with Framber Valdez at the GM Meetings last month. Either one would check the “top half” box that Elias alluded to.
There has been less said about pitchers farther down the pecking order, but that is more a result of how the offseason flows than the work the Orioles are doing. Teams try to land the big fish first and then settle for the smaller ones as options diminish and spring training nears.
However, Elias has always preferred shopping in the clearance aisle in prior offseason, and it sounds like he is open to doing so again now.
“We’ll have to source all types of pitching,” Elias recently said. “You have to go into Spring Training these days with at least eight options, and probably more than that. So we’ll be working all winter.”
The Orioles do not currently have eight options, and certainly not more. The players on the 40-man roster with recent starting experience are Bradish, Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young. According to Elias himself, that means they need at least two more viable arms to join the rotation mix.
That would be smart. Bradish, Rogers, Wells, Povich, and Young all spent time on the IL last year. And in this era, it’s a good bet that they will all get hurt again, although hopefully for only short periods of time. Teams almost have to build out two entire rotations—and get a little lucky—in order to survive a season.
The offseason is still young. The Winter Meetings begin this week, so there is time to see if what Elias has been saying so far turns into real change on the roster. It needs to. While flawed, the Orioles are clearly a talented bunch as they exist. But they need to built in more contingencies so that they can avoid a similar flop to what they experienced last summer.
