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ORLANDO – The Orioles looked like they were going to complete the most eventful Winter Meetings without actually doing anything.
They were rumored to be on just about every free agent, and certainly the most expensive. They offered designated hitter Kyle Schwarber $150 million over five years, but the Phillies matched it and got him. They remained in the hunt for outfielders Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, the former ranked No. 1 on every board with a projected cost in the neighborhood of $400 million over 11 years. They were serious enough about first baseman Pete Alonso to schedule a face-to-face meeting and be viewed by at least a few industry folks as the dark horse pick to sign him.
I go back to an observation, which I shared yesterday morning, that Alonso was going to fall in their laps. My advice: Always wear a cup.
This is a monumental statement from the Orioles, who went from back-to-back playoff appearances to last place and a decline in attendance.
Alonso’s deal is the second-largest financial commitment made by the Orioles after Chris Davis’ seven-year, $161 million contract in 2016 that kept him in Baltimore. Adam Jones received a six-year, $85.5 million extension in 2012.
You have to go back to Miguel Tejada’s six-year, $72 million deal in 2003 for the last major signing of a free agent from outside the organization.
They talked a good game and backed it up. And the crazy part is, they aren’t done.
Top starters Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Tatsuya Imai, Zac Gallen and Michael King are realistic targets. The Orioles aren’t just shooting off their mouths. They’re reportedly in discussions with the Marlins about Edward Cabrera and also are negotiating with other executives. Some conversations inside the Winter Meetings hotel are leak-proof.
Alonso will be announced, perhaps later today, after he passes his physical and signs his contract. Until then, the last major league transactions will be Friday’s waiver claims of outfielder Will Robertson and catcher Drew Romo. The earth didn’t shake.
Romo was designated for assignment yesterday.
These are necessary moves to create depth, even if it’s in Triple-A. Every team does them. But they don’t prevent the contention window from slamming shut. Alonso and whoever follows for the rotation should be able to prop it open.
President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias only met with the media on Monday, but he would have reminded everyone that plenty of deals are made after the Winter Meetings. The groundwork is laid for future negotiations. Tomoyuki Sugano signed on Dec. 16, Charlie Morton on Jan. 3 and Andrew Kittredge on Jan. 13.
The line, however, is cast for much bigger fish.
Or polar bears.
We found out that the Orioles don’t care about positions as much as production. They weren’t in on Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman, but they can make room for Alonso. They would have found room for Tucker, Bellinger or another outfielder. The rest can be figured out later, creating wider avenues for Elias to make trades.
The flexibility that the Orioles usually covet for their lineup goes ignored with Alonso. He’s played in 162 games the past two seasons and has averaged 158.5 in his six full major league seasons.
This is why the Orioles will push their cart down the trade market aisles.
The offensive shutdowns are well documented. They ranked 24th this year in average, on-base percentage and runs scored and 21st in OPS. Alonso and outfielder Taylor Ward, acquired from the Angels for Grayson Rodriguez, combined for 74 home runs and 229 RBIs. The Orioles hit .231/.297/.364 against left-handers. Alonso owns better stats versus right-handers, but Ward has a career .283/.354/.470 line against southpaws.
Alonso has played in 10 games at Camden Yards and slashed .263/.302/.737 (10-for-38) with three doubles and five home runs. He delivered a game-tying, two-run homer off Bryan Baker in the eighth inning on July 8, went 5-for-9 with a double, three homers and six RBIs in a two-game series in 2021, and hit a solo shot off John Means in 2020.
In 16 playoff games, Alonso has slashed .278/.429/.574 with a double, five home runs and 11 RBIs.
The Orioles can’t give Alonso the uniform number that he wore with the Mets, in college and in high school. Frank Robinson is forever No. 20 in Baltimore.
Where can they bat him?
In a lineup that could be scary good.
Alonso has hit fourth in 592 games, third in 228 and second in 133. He won’t be second with the Orioles. Pitching matchups will decide certain spots, and maybe whether Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo start, but Alonso probably will be hunkered down at cleanup.
Gunnar Henderson could be restored as the leadoff hitter. Beavers’ on-base ability makes him a candidate, but he won’t play every day. Taylor Ward is another thumper who could be third. Elias referred to him as a middle-of-the-order bat, though he said it before Alonso came along.
I’d go Henderson, Westburg, Ward and Alonso in the first four spots, though that’s three right-handed hitters in a row. Gasp! Switch-hitting Adley Rutschman could be fifth, Basallo sixth and Tyler O’Neill seventh when he’s in right field instead of Beavers. Colton Cowser could bat eighth and Jackson Holliday ninth, or vice versa.
However it shakes out, Alonso is a difference maker. How appropriate for him alone to make the 2025 Winter Meetings seem so different.
