The Orioles have made a few moves this offseason but are still looking for a big rotation upgrade and an impact bat. President of baseball operations Mike Elias spoke to the media today about the club’s offseason and was asked if the O’s had enough spending capacity to address both needs via free agency. “Yes, I think so,” Elias said, per Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. “I mean, you look at our payroll as it stands right now, and it’s still well below where we went last year.”
Baltimore went into 2025 with an Opening Day payroll of $165MM, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Thanks to some midseason trades and some guys reaching free agency at season’s end, next year’s payroll isn’t close to that number. As of today, their 2026 club is slated to cost about $118MM, per RosterResource. Even if there’s no bump in payroll coming, that’s more than $45MM in wiggle room.
Elias candidly admitted last month that a front-of-rotation starter and a reliever with closing experience were on the to-do list. The latter seems to be ticked off the list, at least for now. The O’s signed Ryan Helsley earlier this month. Today, Elias said the club is still looking for an external reliever but also might want to leave room open for some of their incumbent arms, per Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun.
That still leaves the rotation as an item to be crossed off. Adding an impact bat was also on the list. The O’s acquired Taylor Ward from the Angels last month but Elias admitted in the wake of that deal that bolstering the lineup was still on the agenda.
Elias said today that the club is willing to be open-minded about the positional fit of the hitter they look to add, per Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. “If the player is good enough, we can figure out ways to accommodate them, so we have a lot of conversations going on, mostly in free agency, but also in some trades, on guys we view as impact bats.”
Just about anywhere the O’s add to their position player group, there will be domino effects. They don’t have a pure designated hitter but there are several guys who would currently project to spend time there. The catching duo is currently Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, so the DH spot could be used to have both of them in the lineup regularly. In the outfield, they have Ward, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers, Tyler O’Neill and others in the mix. Given O’Neill’s injury history, it would make sense for him to get some DH time. At first base, they have both Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle in the mix, so the DH spot would be needed if the O’s want both of those guys getting at-bats. The rest of the infield includes Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.
Adding just about any impact hitter would knock someone down the pecking order. If the O’s successfully sign a notable free agent bat, perhaps that will push someone currently on the roster to the trading block. In recent weeks, the O’s have been connected to notable free agents like corner outfielder Kyle Tucker, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Pete Alonso. On the starting pitching side of things, the O’s have been connected to names like Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Michael King and Zac Gallen.
MLBTR predicted Tucker to earn a guarantee of $400MM over 11 years. That’s an average annual value of $36.36MM, which would eat up most of Baltimore’s remaining spending capacity, assuming they are willing to run a similar payroll in 2026. With the others, it’s somewhat possible to imagine two of them fitting into the club’s remaining payroll space. Valdez was projected for a $30MM AAV, Alonso $27.5MM, Schwarber $27MM, Imai $25MM, Suarez $23MM and then King and Gallen both at $20MM.
Theoretically, if the O’s do add two names from that list, they could also then save money via the trade market. For instance, Mountcastle is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $7.8MM next year. Or perhaps there’s a path where younger and cheaper players are traded for a more notable return, which lessens the need to do everything via free agency. Elias has yet to sign a starting pitcher to a multi-year deal but there have been offers, including putting a four-year pact on the table for Corbin Burnes.
If they do go the free agent route, Elias has already said they are willing to sign guys who rejected qualifying offers. As a revenue-sharing recipient, the O’s would have to forfeit their third-highest selection in next year’s draft to sign a guy who rejected a QO. Of the aforementioned names, that would apply to Tucker, Schwarber, Valdez, Suarez, Gallen and King. Alonso wasn’t eligible to receive a QO because he got one a year ago. Imai is coming over from Japan, so the QO situation doesn’t apply, but whoever signs him would have to pay a posting fee to his NPB club.
Elias also provided one other note about the club’s plans, noting that they hope to develop Jeremiah Jackson in a utility role, per Weyrich. Jackson debuted in 2025 and hit well, with a .276/.328/.447 line, though that was buoyed by a .365 batting average on balls in play. He played second base, third base and right field. In the minors, he also has experience at shortstop and the other two outfield slots.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
They keep saying all the right things. Time to put up or shut up. Fingers crossed for all us O’s fans.
They’re going to get it done. They have the budget space and I believe the new ownership is more open minded about spending. I’m optimistic for the Orioles going forward.
Keep in mind that it’s called “free agency.” The player(s) get to choose which suitor signs them.
Most players choose the most $. So owners decide where they will go.
Literally not what happened with the FA fans most accuse the O’s of cheaping out on (Burnes). Guys choose location, roster, and contract structure preferences over NPV all the time.
Arizona offered Burnes best contract according to Burnes
Good Lord, are we doing this again? They said that at the time to save face for the teams and agent. It’s been made very clear since then that two teams, including the Os, offered bigger contracts. He was set on being near his family.
Orioles won the Burnes deal. He got hurt in Year 1 and will miss a significant portion of Year 2.
Soren, the Diamondbacks offered more guaranteed money. The Orioles offered a higher AAV. Both things are true.
Can you link to the other team that supposedly offered more money. I don’t see anything about that on this website when I search Burnes.
I don’t have the salary in front of me to compare, but which is cheaper Teoscar or O’Neill?
Probably O’Neill but I’d rather have Hernandez
I was hoping Oneill would be cheaper, to try and swap the two. I think the O’s would do well to get some guys with post season experience
Dude. The owner said multiple times publicly that there is no restriction on payroll. Go out there and spend. Stop listening to your computer.
His computer is probably telling him to spend, too. Really just time to get his head out of the sand.
Doesn’t work that way.
The owner said they had the flexibility to go after any player that was a fit. That does not mean there is not a budget or a ceiling on spending.
As an Os fan, I’m hoping for an Alonso signing, followed by Ranger Suarez. Package a combo of Mountcastle, Mayo, Beavers, prospect(s) for a #2 starter. Not asking for much!
No way you sign both. One, understandable, 2, how much money are you looking to add?
Read the post . . . . Mike Elias says they can do both!
I believe they can sign 2 top 40 FA’s, just not Alonso and Suarez together.
And Elias said they can sign 2 top 40 FA.
Let’s Go Blue Jays!
What a dumb, out of place comment
And you highlight it while I emphasize that fact.
What did that accomplish?
The O’s need to start the momentum with a good 1st big sign (other than Helsley)… ideally their TOR. That helps get them traction on their 2nd rotation piece and bat. Sign Imai now, or Framber. Heck, both of them… throw caution to the wind. Jump to the top 5 in payroll and shut down the old tired criticisms.
Let’s go Blue Jays!
Is this ragebait
Valdez is coming to Baltimore.
I agree with you, but this is the time of hoping and dreaming.
I would like the gap between what Elias says and does to close. If that occurs, I’ll be pretty optimistic about 2026.
The team needs two starters – one at the top and a 2/3 type. That would push Wells to the bullpen, helping there. Then they could use someone in the BP in a role like what Soto was and the bullpen should be in good shape.
Valdez or Suarez, maybe then Gallen (but not just Gallen alone). I’d be good with King, too.
The team will have to part with big money to land a big free agent bat. It will displace one or more OF and/or 1B. They will need to make a big money multi year commitment to a pitcher to solidify the rotation. Its brought up as a need every year, Elias says he will address, let’s see it.
I don’t think O’s will get 2 top starters.
Don’t sing it, bring it.
Just a general comment, not about the Orioles. I don’t see much happening at the Meetings unless one of Schwarber, Tucker or Bellinger sign. Maybe Alonso. Then there might be some trades and other 2nd tier FA signings. It’s unusual in that the pitching market is not the first mover like in other years.
RWH2 I think 4 different places have Schwarber as 1st domino that I have read (or saw MLB Network). Hopefully it happens soon to get out of “interested in” season.
Still bitter about Grayson. I think Ward will do well in the lineup and would definitely love to see him relax and mash out of the 5/6 hole. Still work to be done on the lineup IMO. Alonso at 1b would be nice. Still advocating for a Jackson for Seagram trade straight up and kick Westy to 2b and slide either Gunnar or Seagar to 3rd. That would be an elite IF mixed in with promising catchers. Definitely need at least 1 of the available TOR arms and I would be ok with trying to run it back on a cheap deal with Eflin to compliment Bradish, rogers, Wells, Kremer, and a FA pickup. Another stud reliever would be nice as well.
I think the Os need 2 starters and a bat.
Sign Suarez, Alonso, and trade for Pivetta
FO has fumbled this batch of prospects that all hit in 2022. Now it’s back to the rebuild bard
I don’t understand. I clicked on the link and saw the $118mm payroll number at the top, but the salaries that have to be paid to the 40 man adds up to $136mm. I can’t replicate the $118 number from any of it. So that number doesn’t represent the same thing that last year’s $160 does.
It appears that, apples to apples, they are about $25mm below last year’s payroll. And this is the first time I have heard Elias admit that he is limited to the same payroll as last year. With so many holes to fill, there will be no $30 mm free agent signing then. It’s all smoke.
Elias just said last season’s payroll of $164 million is their ceiling. The O’s current 40 man is around $135-136 million depending on what the arbitration eligible players sign for. That would point to them having $28-29 million to spend unless they move salary in trades. That would preclude signing anyone at the top of the market if they want to sign other free agents as well. 2nd tier players like King or Gallen might be a possibility.