Looking ahead to a critical Orioles offseason

The rear view mirror is the best place for the Orioles’ 2025 season to be. 

With a 75-87 record, Baltimore found itself in the cellar of the American League East. Forty-one different O’s threw a pitch, and 35 took a swing. 

Trevor Rogers, the Most Valuable Oriole, was the team’s best player. Gunnar Henderson’s “down” season still resulted in 5.4 bWAR, according to Baseball Reference, but too many core position players followed that troubling, slumping trend. Just two regulars finished the season with an OPS of .700 or better, and nobody cracked 20 home runs. 

Those results are, now, in the past. The road that lies ahead is what’s important. 

That’s what we discussed on this week’s edition of “The Bird’s Nest,” which you can watch and listen to here. 

The manager search 

Before we can start to think about the roster construction of the 2026 Orioles, the integral decision of who is leading them must be considered. 

Interim manager Tony Mansolino had a strong, four-month long interview for the getting the job on a permanent basis. He led the O’s to a 60-59 record while the club continued to cope with injuries and a underwent a lot of roster turnover at the trade deadline. Mansolino, at his end-of-season press conference, noted that he feels confident in his good standing in the organization, as well as his ability to push the team back into contention. 

While Mansolino is sure to be among the top candidates for the role, baseball operations president Mike Elias noted that the organization will explore all potential avenues.  

If Baltimore opts for a more experienced manager, a name like Bob Melvin could be in the mix. Perhaps best known for his time with the Athletics, Melvin led the A’s to an 853-764 record. David Ross could make his return to the dugout, too, as could Joe Girardi or Joe Maddon. 

Bruce Bochy is a popular name, but it’s hard to look past the vacancy in San Francisco and Bochy’s history there. Not to mention the fact that Bochy’s star player during his stretch of dominance with the Giants, Buster Posey, is now the team’s president of baseball operations. 

There’s a similar story in Texas for Skip Schumaker. The former Manager of the Year in Miami is currently in an advisory role with the Rangers, a club that is now looking to replace Bochy. 

Options of the less-experienced variety are plentiful, too, including former Oriole Ryan Flaherty, currently the bench coach for the Cubs. Mark DeRosa doesn’t have major league managerial experience, but led Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 

The list of names will be narrowed as the Orioles figure out what type of manager they want to bring in. Baltimore, with its young core of position players, will certainly be a top destination for any candidate. 

The general manager search? 

Here’s one we didn’t see coming. 

Elias is, and has been for some time, the new president of baseball operations and (for now, anyway) general manager in Baltimore. The O’s are in search of a general manager to join him and expand their baseball operations department, but Elias noted that the club might not fill that position this offseason. 

The exact details on what this role will be and how it will differ from Elias’ remain murky, but after a disappointing season, the Orioles are looking for something fresh to right the ship. 

The roster construction 

Starting pitching should, and more than likely will, be the top priority for the Orioles this offseason. Baltimore needs a front-end guy and they need rotational depth. 

Rogers and Kyle Bradish profile as top-three starters, and the O’s would like to add one more. In free agency, names like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Dylan Cease and Zac Gallen fit that bill. 

The starting rotation could use a facelift, but the bullpen needs a renovation. 

Félix Bautista, Bryan Baker and Andrew Kittredge, all previously under team control for 2026, will not be in the ‘pen, Baker and Kittredge traded away and Bautista again injured. Bautista’s absence will be felt most severely, as a priority for the O’s now becomes finding a closer. 

Perhaps Robert Suárez would join his brother Albert with the Orioles. If not, Kenley Jansen, Ryan Helsley and Luke Weaver could be options. 

The improvements on the position-player side will need to come internally. While external options - perhaps a fourth outfielder such as Harrison Bader - will surely be explored, much of Baltimore’s lineup for next season is already in the building. 

A top priority for the offseason must be to get the young core back on track. Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser all had down years offensively, whether due to injuries, underperformance or both. That group will be tasked with leading this team in 2026. If they don’t, the broader roster construction conversation doesn’t make much difference. 

This winter will include a search for a manager, general manager and roster upgrades. With aim to be back in contention in the American League East next season, it’s one of the most important offseasons in Baltimore’s recent history.