Judging from the opinions of outsiders in the industry, the Orioles will be the biggest spenders this winter, aim for one big strike and make a series of lesser moves, or spread out their money more evenly.
That should just about cover it.
Scouts, agents and others in the business agree on the shopping list and how, of course, the Orioles are buyers. An impact starting pitcher at the near the top of the rotation should be the priority. The bullpen isn’t near complete, and not just because it’s missing a closer. The lineup needs a big bat. Leadership was lacking in 2025.
Otherwise, the perceptions about how the Orioles will operate are scattered and based too much on the past – whether previous payroll constraints or how a last-place finish in 2025 will motivate.
The qualifying offer won’t necessarily deter the Orioles from pursuing a free agent. And according to president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias, the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement in December 2026 isn’t influencing how he conducts business.
Concerns are building over the possibility of another labor stoppage similar to the lockout in December 2021. A new agreement was signed on March 10, 2022.
The union is opposed to a salary cap, with Players Association executive director Tony Clark calling it “institutionalized collusion.”
“We try not to think about it and remain hopeful,” Elias said. “I think recent history has shown that we’ve figured out ways to have a lot of continuity, so that’s not something that we’re gonna be putting too many eggs in that basket as we assess opportunities.”
A few other nuggets from Elias following the GM meetings:
* The deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players is Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. The Orioles have 12 players to consider, down from the original 14 with outfielder Dylan Carlson and reliever José Castillo gone.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and reliever Yennier Cano probably are the two toughest calls.
The other players are pitchers Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Keegan Akin, Félix Bautista and Albert Suárez, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and catchers Adley Rutschman and Alex Jackson.
“There’s a lot of deadlines in this business and it’s usually prudent to make some of those decisions as late as possible,” Elias said. “Just more and more information that you have. And we utilize the time that we’re afforded to do that.”
* The bullpen needs work, but Elias got a head start by reacquiring reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs for cash considerations on Nov. 4.
The Orioles picked up Kittredge’s $9 million option, which they gave him in January prior to his deadline trade to Chicago for teenage shortstop prospect Wilfri De La Cruz.
Getting back Kittredge wasn’t the plan back on July 31.
“I didn’t know that it was going to be a possibility,” Elias said. “He was great for the Cubs and I can’t speak for their payroll decisions, but I think a lot of it with some of these club options at the front end of an offseason is, teams may not dislike the price point, but they’re just not ready to devote that part of their budget or they just don’t know their exact budget yet, and it’s just a little early sometimes to make the commitment.
“They knew we liked him, obviously, and they let us know that they were thinking about trading the option, and we got in on it pretty quickly once they communicated that to us.”
Note: Mitch Plassmeyer is the fourth coach from the 2025 season who’s staying with the club, according to a source.
The Orioles promoted Plassmeyer from minor league pitching coordinator to major league assistant pitching coach in January 2024. He replaced Darren Holmes, who was hired as Cubs bullpen coach. Plassmeyer was minor league pitching coordinator since May 2022.
His role changed again on May 17 after the Orioles dismissed manager Brandon Hyde and major league field coordinator/catching instructor Tim Cossins, who was in the bullpen during games. Plassmeyer became interim bullpen coach, along with his other duties.
To review, the Orioles also are bringing back pitching coach Drew French, interim third base coach Buck Britton and pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek. Some roles are to be determined.
The club hasn’t announced or confirmed the moves.
Elias said new manager Craig Albernaz, vice president of player and staff development Matt Blood and assistant general manager Eve Rosenbaum have the main responsibilities of building the staff, and he weighs in “as needed.”
“They’re working intensely on it while other members of the front office are working on the player market,” he said.
BaltimoreBaseball.com passed along the Plassmeyer news.