The Orioles had their arbitration hands full after the 2025 season with 11 eligible players. They reached agreements with nine by the deadline, lost in a hearing to starter Kyle Bradish and defeated reliever Keegan Akin.

At least they were able to finish .500 at the table.

Bradish earned $3.55 million rather than the $2.875 million submitted by the Orioles. He signed a five-year, $90 million extension on July 18, with a perk being a hotel suite on road trips, according to Cot’s Contracts. Akin had to accept $2.975 million instead of $3.375, underwent Tommy John surgery in July and is a pending free agent.

That’s pretty bad timing.

The 2026 offseason list contains seven players. Reliever Yennier Cano received $1.6 million last winter to avoid a hearing and signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with a $10 million option in 2029 that bought out his last two arbitration years. Shane Baz agreed to $3.5 million last winter to avoid a hearing after the Orioles acquired him in a trade with the Rays, and they signed him to a five-year, $68 million deal on March 27.

The current eligibles per MLBTradeRumors.com are shortstop Gunnar Henderson, infielder Jordan Westburg, outfielders Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras, and relievers Félix Bautita, Albert Suárez and Codi Heuer.

Henderson got a nice bump to $8.5 million, a franchise record for a player in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He hit .226/.311/.404 with 27 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs and 60 RBIs in 158 games, and revealed during the final series at Yankee Stadium that he had wrist soreness for about half the season.

MLBTR is using its formula to project a raise to $14.1 million this winter.

The site also has Taveras going from  $2.1 million to $3.7 million, Bautista from $2.25 million to $2.4 million, Cowser from $801,500 to $2.2 million in his first year of eligibility and Westburg from $802,800 to $1.5 million in his first year of eligibility.

Taveras appeared in 139 games, more than expected as an extra outfielder and prior to injuries and the trade deadline. He hit .219/.288/.345 with 18 doubles, six triples, eight homers and 56 RBIs.

His triples tied Henderson for the team lead and his RBIs ranked fourth. However, his spot for next season is far from secured.

Bautista signed in November to avoid arbitration, on the same day that the Orioles non-tendered Suárez. He made it back from shoulder surgery to pitch twice in September and allow three runs and four hits with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.

The Orioles will count on Bautista to at least share the closer duties next season. Ryan Helsley is expected to exercise his $14 million option. Multiple bullpen moves are pending.

Cowser got into 142 games and played an exceptional center field, but he batted .226/.317/.370 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs, and he slashed .158 with a 445 OPS in 65 plate appearances against left-handers.

His 2.5 bWAR ranked third among current Orioles.

The Orioles figure to plop Cowser into their outfield mix again next season and hope to get more out of him offensively.

Westburg didn’t play this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’s started a hitting progression and is expected to be ready for spring training, whenever camps open.

The rest is up to him. He’s got to stay healthy.

Suárez signed a minor league deal on Dec. 17 that carried a $780,000 base salary upon reaching the majors. The Orioles selected his contract five times, with multiple designations for assignment, outright refusals and new agreements. It was one of the crazier seasons that I can remember with any player.

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Suárez removed from the 40-man again. MLBTR sets his salary at $1.1 million.

Heuer was recalled twice in September and didn’t get into a game after the Orioles purchased his contract from the Brewers on Aug. 3. MLBTR projects his salary next season at $1.1 million. Meanwhile, he could be a 40-man roster bubble guy.

The 2025 group included Adley Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, who were traded this year at the deadline. Trevor Rogers is a pending free agent. And Ryan Mountcastle’s $6.787 deal included a $7.5 million team option that could be declined after a fractured foot and severe oblique injury limited him to only eight games.

Some future additions could add to the 2026 group. with Ward an example last offseason.