I’ve reached that time of the year, near the end of it, when I’m asked to supply Orioles information to a national publication.
The early deadline makes it almost impossible to be completely accurate when checking back later. The roster isn’t set. It's gotten closer, but president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias has more work to do.
Elias signed veteran starter Charlie Morton, reliever Andrew Kittredge and outfielder Dylan Carlson in January 2025, outfielder Ramón Laureano a month later and veteran starter Kyle Gibson in March.
The doors were blown off my report on Feb. 1, 2024 when Elias traded for ace Corbin Burnes.
Much, much too late for a rewrite.
So how are we looking on Dec. 28, 2025?
The rotation is Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells. But that other new starter better show up fast or my projection will be outdated again.
The eight relievers begin with closer Ryan Helsley. His designation is required and undisputed. The Orioles didn’t sign him to a two-year, $28 million deal to set up.
“For the regular season, yeah, he's going to be our closer,” manager Craig Albernaz said at the Winter Meetings.
Confirmation wasn’t necessary, but a reporter asked him anyway.
Kittredge is back and also an easy call. I’ll probably include right-handers Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia and Kade Strowd, and left-handers Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns. Grant Wolfram might have been a third lefty, but the Orioles signed Albert Suárez to a minor league deal and I think he could tip the right/left ratio to six/two. Otherwise, Garcia might be vulnerable after signing a split contract. I’ll put him in the ‘pen.
This is where future changes are almost assured of happening. I’d move Wells to relief if another starter arrived before the publication’s deadline. It just feels inevitable. And Elias is expected to bring in at least one more reliever.
Cano had a disappointing season that included a demotion to the minors, and he still has options. He probably breaks camp with the team but could pitch his way off it.
The catchers are the easiest to predict, with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. The infield must be Gunnar Henderson, Pete Alonso, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo. The outfield must be Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. That gives us 13 position players.
The shakeup occurs if the Orioles trade Mountcastle or Mayo. If they bring in another backup outfielder or infielder. Or if Jeremiah Jackson is kept in a utility role. Lots of potential moving parts here.
The four-man bench/designated hitter would be Basallo, Mountcastle, Mayo, Beavers and Taveras. Doesn’t matter who’s the DH in this assignment, but I’ll say Basallo for lineup purposes.
Oh yeah, the lineup.
The opposing pitcher influences the order and there are going to be many versions, but I only need one.
I’ve been resistant to putting Ward first, unlike some of my colleagues. I don’t think it’s appropriate for a guy who just hit 36 homers, drove in 103 runs and batted .228 with a .317 on-base percentage. But he’s done it and the lineup can be more easily balanced on some nights.
I’m going with the following for the purposes of this drill:
Gunnar Henderson SS
Jordan Westburg 3B
Taylor Ward LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Adley Rutschman C
Samuel Basallo DH
Tyler O’Neill RF
Colton Cowser CF
Jackson Holliday 2B
Rutschman could hit second. Holliday and Cowser could trade spots. Mountcastle could be the DH.
Feel free as always to share your thoughts.