Last year, around this time, the Baltimore Orioles made one of their boldest offseason moves, shaking up their roster by trading for right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes. The excitement was palpable as fans hoped Burnes would be the cornerstone of the team’s rotation, injecting some much-needed star power. However, that excitement was short-lived. After just one season with the Orioles, Burnes moved on to Arizona in free agency late in December. Now, the team finds itself with a pressing need to find a replacement who can step up as a true ace before the start of spring training.
“We like where we're at, but we still have time on the clock before the offseason’s over,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said during a recent stop at the team’s Birdland Caravan. “There are still free agents available, and the trade market can sometimes surprise you, happening later than expected. I can’t predict exactly what will happen, but there are still possibilities.”
The team is definitely in a pivotal moment. Under new ownership, they’ve made moves to bolster their roster, but nothing as high-profile as last year's trade for Burnes. This offseason, the Orioles have welcomed several new faces, including outfielders Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson, veteran starting pitchers Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, reliever Andrew Kittredge, and backup catcher Gary Sánchez. However, none of these acquisitions have been long-term commitments, with most being on one-year deals.
These moves, combined with raises to players eligible for arbitration, have pushed the Orioles' payroll up to 15th in the major leagues, according to Spotrac. While this represents a significant improvement for a team that was once near the bottom of the payroll rankings, it’s clear that the Orioles are still keeping their financial commitments relatively light, especially when looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.
There’s definitely a strategy behind this approach. With a crop of young stars like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, and Jordan Westburg emerging, the Orioles have the potential to lock in long-term deals for these players in the coming seasons. But doing so will require a large financial commitment — something that could limit the team’s flexibility down the line.
“There’s definitely a benefit to maintaining flexibility from year to year,” Elias explained. “But I also expect that we’ll see things evolve. Perhaps next year, we’ll be discussing a different approach altogether.”
As of now, the Orioles have yet to sign any of their budding stars to long-term contracts. This lack of extended deals could come with some costs. For example, the team is set to pay veteran pitchers Charlie Morton (41) and Tomoyuki Sugano (35) a combined $28 million this season. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees made headlines when they signed All-Star pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, which breaks down to an average annual value of $27.25 million.
Now, the Orioles’ decision to sign older pitchers to shorter contracts might ultimately turn out to be the more prudent choice, but it highlights the stark difference in how some teams are building their rosters. In particular, the long-term stability and security of pitchers like Fried are often a key factor in their ability to command such large deals. The challenge for Baltimore in 2025 will be seeing if their rotation can hold up without Burnes and with only short-term additions to bolster their staff.
Meanwhile, as the Orioles slowly dip their toes into the deeper end of the spending pool, owner David Rubenstein recently made headlines by sharing his thoughts on the state of baseball’s finances. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Rubenstein expressed his desire for a salary cap in the sport. This comment raised eyebrows, as it signaled that he isn’t necessarily eager to unleash a spending spree like some fans might have hoped when he took over ownership at the start of last season. Instead, Rubenstein’s approach has been to increase the payroll steadily, focusing on gradual growth rather than immediate overhauls.
“I think we’ve continuously elevated the payroll since the beginning of the rebuild,” Elias said, reflecting on the team’s approach to spending. “That’s been true even before David Rubenstein and his group bought the team. But since they’ve taken over, it has definitely opened up new opportunities for us.”
As the Orioles look ahead to a potential third consecutive postseason appearance, it’s clear that Elias isn’t losing any sleep over the extravagant spending by teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers. Recently, the Dodgers made headlines by adding star players like Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Roki Sasaki to a roster that already won the World Series last year. Elias had a pragmatic response when asked about the Dodgers’ aggressive approach to building their team.
“I’m glad they’re in the National League West,” Elias quipped. “They’re an amazing organization, really at the top of their game right now. And Shohei Ohtani, well, he’s a once-in-a-century kind of player. The Dodgers are a well-run organization across the board, and I hope we get the chance to face them in the World Series. Kudos to them.”
That said, the Orioles’ path forward doesn’t have to mirror the Dodgers’ spending sprees. Instead, it’s about finding that balance between prudent financial management and making the right moves to push the team into the next tier of success. With a promising group of young talent, a stable ownership group, and the potential for more moves before spring training, the Orioles have a real opportunity to solidify their place as contenders in the American League.
What’s clear is that while the Orioles may not be splashing the cash in the same way as some of their competitors, they’re still in a good position to build for the future. The offseason isn’t over yet, and with the clock ticking, Mike Elias and the front office will be looking for those last-minute deals that could push the team over the top. Whether it’s through free agency or a trade, the Orioles will need to make the right moves to ensure they’re ready for the challenge ahead — and that might mean finding that ace pitcher to lead the rotation into 2025.
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