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The needs of a 75-87, last-place team that should have contended for a third straight playoff appearance and challenged for the organization’s first World Series title in 42 years are so long and varied that it’s hard to agree on a starting point.
Finding a new manager is a top priority, but the front office can conduct its roster business without him. He’ll play the hand that he’s dealt.
His life will be easier if the Orioles give him a veteran bat for the lineup.
Make sure that it’s gripped by a leader.
The Orioles are counting on the young core, as it’s called, to step up in 2026. They also counted on it in 2025 and results were mixed at best. Mostly below expectations.
Gunnar Henderson’s intercostal strain in spring training delayed his season debut and likely contributed to a .228/.268/.413 line after 23 games heading into May. He rallied to lead the team in pretty much every category and tied for first in home runs, though the bar was lowered.
Jackson Holliday was inconsistent, which shouldn’t be a shocker at his age. Colton Cowser flashed power but hit .196/.269/.385 in 92 games and struck out 128 times in 327 at-bats, making less swing-and-miss a priority again. A fractured left thumb on March 30 cost him two months. No more diving into first base.
Adley Rutschman followed a poor second half last season by batting .220/.307/.366 in 90 games. He went on the injured list for the first two times in his career, straining his left and right obliques. I hadn’t heard of anyone doing that in the same year since Nolan Reimold in 2007 at Double-A Bowie.
Jordan Westburg just needs to remain healthy, which he couldn’t do again this year. He’s hit .260, .264 and .265 with on-base percentages of .311, .312 and .313 in his first three seasons, and he’s capable of so much more if he can stay on the field.
If, if, if. The Orioles can’t let their entire season hinge on whether the core avoids major injuries and produces to its potential, a core that now includes first baseman Coby Mayo, catcher Samuel Basallo and outfielder Dylan Beavers. They need a proven hitter capable of carrying them for stretches and relieving the pressure on everyone else - a 2026 version of Nelson Cruz.
"When you have a season that misses the mark by this much, there’s a lot on the list of what went wrong, but certainly that was amongst the most, I don’t know if I want to say 'surprising,' but kind of fundamental, that a lot of our core drafted players that have formed the spine of not only this winning team the last few years, but the rebuild leading into it," said president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias. "Most of them were hurt or had down years or stagnating in some form or fashion, and it’s definitely concerning to watch it happen and concerning to watch it happen to a lot of them simultaneously. That was a big factor in our record.
"We have talked a lot with them individually about it. I think all of us in the org, there’s a lot of soul searching and looking in the mirror individually: What could each of us have done better to get a better result for the team? And that definitely applies to those guys. We’ve talked about it. We’re formulating plans. And we’re going to do everything that we can to kind of have them bounce back and get back on track. Very, very, very confident that that’s going to happen with this group, and it’s obviously a huge factor for the team next year. But the talent in those guys and the work ethic and the mindset all points to optimism."
There’s also the leadership factor. Players agree that the core is ready and capable, but the responsibility shouldn’t be dumped on it. Westburg and Cedric Mullins, among others, brought up the importance of having a leader in the clubhouse. James McCann was removed from it last winter. Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Laureano and Charlie Morton were traded at the deadline.
“We love veteran players and we love great leaders,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said during Monday’s press conference. “It’s hard to predict what’s going to be here and what isn’t. What we can predict is that Gunnar and Westburg and (Kyle) Bradish and, likely, Dean (Kremer), all these guys, Adley, they’re going to be here next year, and those guys all have the makings to be great leaders, and those guys have all won here in the big leagues.
“So do we invite more veteran players and more veteran leadership? Without a doubt. Do we think we also have some growing leaders and guys that can kind of take that part or that necessity and move it forward for us? Absolutely.”
Focus more on the first part. Veteran leadership should be injected into the club, without a doubt, but it’s got to be more than just a voice. The Orioles need a potent bat. Robinson Chirinos and Rougned Odor led, but they didn’t hit.
Where it fits is another matter. The infield seems set except for a utility player, whether or not first baseman Ryan Mountcastle returns, and the Orioles want to keep the designated hitter spot flexible to rotate in players like Basallo, Rutschman and Mayo.
That leaves the outfield. Cowser and Beavers are projected to play most days, ideally on the corners, but Tyler O’Neill also is back – unlikely to exercise his opt-out – and he gives the lineup a right-handed hitter.
Cowser plays a nice center field but at least one person in the organization believes the best defensive alignment has him in left. Cody Bellinger plays all three spots, puts up big numbers – he was the National League’s Most Valuable Player with the Dodgers in 2019 - and has a $25 million player option that he’s expected to decline in exchange for the chance at a lucrative long-term deal.
(I’ll pause here and try again to wrap my head around the Cubs trading Bellinger to the Yankees for reliever Cody Poteet in a salary dump and to clear space in a crowded outfield. Yeah, that Cody Poteet.)
OK, we’re back. Bellinger would be ideal for the Orioles. At what cost, I don’t know. I also don’t know how much they’re willing to increase payroll.
The offensive nosedive last summer didn’t correct itself. The Orioles batted .235, tied for 24th in the majors. A .305 on-base percentage was tied for 23rd, a .394 slugging percentage ranked 19th and a .699 OPS was 21st. They scored 677 runs to rank 24th. They hit .234 with runners in scoring position. They were shut out 15 times. They struck out too much and didn’t walk enough.
Changes on the coaching staff didn’t unleash an offensive beast. Maybe the overall philosophy goes under review, but ultimately it falls on the players to perform.
The front office’s job is to bring in upgrades, the kind that set an example and the pace for the core.
"I think that's going to be a dialog, publicly, hot stove, and as we see each other at the GM meetings and the winter meetings, we'll talk about that in all detail," Elias said. "I don't like to use this press conference right after the season to start breaking down the roster. I think a lot of us, a lot of you that follow the team closely, probably have some really good ideas, they're probably really similar to mine and the team's. But I look forward to having that whole conversation and all that activity out in public in the next several weeks and months."
