Bold take: the Orioles are laying the groundwork for a dramatic upgrade, not just tweaks, and their payroll space could fuel a game-changing off season. The club has already made a handful of moves this winter but still aims to add a top-tier rotation arm and a powerful bat to make a real splash. In a media session, President of baseball operations Mike Elias affirmed there’s enough financial flexibility to pursue both needs in free agency, noting that the current payroll sits well below last year’s level.
Baltimore began 2025 with an Opening Day payroll around $165 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Due to midseason trades and several players hitting free agency, the 2026 payroll projection sits near $118 million, per RosterResource. That creates roughly $45 million of potential spending room even without an explicit payroll bump for 2026.
Elias had already signaled last month that a front-of-the-rotation starter and a reliever with closer experience were priorities. The closer target appears to have been partially addressed by the acquisition of Ryan Helsley earlier in the month. Elias indicated the Orioles still plan to add an external reliever, while leaving some room for internal arms, as reported by The Baltimore Sun.
The rotation remains on the to-do list, and so does adding an impactful bat. The Orioles recently acquired Taylor Ward from the Angels, but Elias warned that strengthening the lineup remains on the agenda. He emphasized openness to various positional fits for the hitter they pursue: if a player is good enough, the team will figure out how to fit them in, with ongoing discussions centered on free agents and possible trades.
Any addition to the position player group would likely cause a domino effect in the lineup. The Orioles don’t have a dedicated DH yet, but several players could fill that role, and the catching duties are currently shared by Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. The DH could effectively accommodate both in a regular lineup. In the outfield, Ward, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers, and Tyler O’Neill are among the possibilities, with O’Neill’s injury history suggesting some DH time could be prudent. At first base, Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle are in the mix, which would again necessitate a DH role if both are to receive regular at-bats. The infield also features Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, and Jordan Westburg, among others.
Introducing an impactful bat would reshuffle the lineup order. Bringing in a marquee hitter could push a current starter into a trade scenario, and the Orioles have been linked to notable free agents such as corner outfielder Kyle Tucker, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and first baseman Pete Alonso. On the pitching side, targets have included names like Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Michael King, and Zac Gallen.
MLB Trade Rumors’ projections suggest a substantial contract for Tucker, potentially around $400 million over 11 years, a figure that would consume a large portion of the remaining payroll capacity if retained under a 2026-like budget. Other suggested targets carry lower AAV projections, such as Valdez (~$30 million), Alonso (~$27.5 million), Schwarber (~$27 million), Imai (~$25 million), Suárez (~$23 million), and for King and Gallen around $20 million each.
If two of these big-name players are added, strategic savings could come from the trade market. For example, MLBTR analyst Matt Swartz projects Mountcastle to earn roughly $7.8 million in arbitration next year, which could open up flexible room if a bigger deal is pursued. There’s also a path to acquire a higher-end player by trading younger, controllable assets for a stronger return, potentially limiting the need to rely entirely on free agency. Elias has not yet sealed a multi-year deal with a starting pitcher, though offers have circulated, including a reported four-year, $180 million proposal for Corbin Burnes.
If the club pursues free agency, Elias has emphasized willingness to sign players who rejected qualifying offers. As a revenue-sharing recipient, Baltimore would forfeit its third-highest draft pick if signing a player who rejected a QO, which would apply to Tucker, Schwarber, Valdez, Suárez, Gallen, and King. Alonso is exempt because he accepted a QO last year, and Imai is exempt from the QO due to coming from Japan (though his signing would involve a posting fee to his NPB club).
Finally, Elias indicated a developmental path for Jeremiah Jackson, aiming to use him in a utility role. Jackson debuted strong in 2025 with a .276/.328/.447 line, though with a notably high batting average on balls in play, and has experience across second base, third base, and the outfield, with additional infield and outfield versatility in the minors.
Photo credit: Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
