The excitement of opportunity often turns into the weight of expectations, and no one knows this better than the Baltimore Orioles. After an exhilarating 2023 season, filled with hope and promise, the Orioles stepped into 2024 with a new ownership and a young, talented roster that had fans buzzing. It felt like a fresh start, a clean slate with endless possibilities, especially when David Rubenstein bought the team from the Angelos family in January. He was introduced to the world of Orioles baseball in grand fashion during a packed news conference on opening day, calling it a “new chapter” for the team. Rubenstein’s enthusiasm was contagious, fueling an already electric atmosphere that screamed, “The future is now!”
And for a while, it seemed he was right.
By the midseason mark, the Orioles were flying high. They had emerged as one of MLB's top teams, proving the skeptics wrong. Corbin Burnes, their headline-grabbing offseason acquisition, was performing as advertised, delivering on the mound and earning every bit of praise. Meanwhile, Gunnar Henderson, their star shortstop, was turning heads, positioning himself as one of the best players in baseball. Fans were thrilled, and talk of postseason glory was in the air. Baltimore was buzzing.
Then, as sports often go, the script took an unexpected turn.
Suddenly, injuries plagued the team. It was like the baseball gods flipped a switch, and chaos followed. Four of their starting pitchers underwent season-ending surgeries. Losing key players one by one, including Danny Coulombe and Jordan Westburg, left the Orioles in a tough spot. While rookies like Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo showed promise and were expected to invigorate the offense, the team struggled to find its rhythm. Their offense never quite clicked, and that inconsistency proved fatal when the Kansas City Royals swept them in the American League wild-card round. Just like that, a promising season came to an abrupt and disappointing end.
Manager Brandon Hyde, who had guided the team through the highs and lows of the season, didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. “Injuries, I’m going to keep bringing that up,” Hyde said during his end-of-season press conference. “That isn’t an excuse, however, from a season standpoint because other teams go through injuries also.” He reflected on their 101-win season the previous year, pointing out that they dealt with plenty of injuries then too. But this year? It felt different. Despite the team’s best efforts, the injuries became too much to overcome.
It’s hard not to feel for the Orioles at this point. Their turnaround in recent years has been remarkable, but the inability to make a deep postseason run has left everyone scratching their heads. Now, as they enter a critical offseason, the big question looms: What went wrong? And more importantly, how do they fix it?
Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias spoke candidly about the disappointment of the season. “The expectations, I think, from this season were different,” Elias said. “We didn’t meet them. We all feel that.” It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering how far the team has come. But Elias remains optimistic about the future, emphasizing the need to work hard in the offseason to ensure 2025 plays out differently. He also confirmed that Hyde will return as the team’s manager next season, a clear vote of confidence in his leadership.
But not everything is set in stone. Decisions about the rest of Hyde’s staff, including the much-criticized hitting coaches, will be made in the coming weeks. Fans have been vocal about the team’s offensive struggles down the stretch, and changes might be necessary to prevent a repeat next year. Elias hinted at the possibility of Rubenstein being willing to increase the team’s payroll, which was one of the lowest in MLB, to build a more competitive roster.
And that brings us to the next big challenge—player contracts. The Orioles have several players with expiring contracts, and they’ll need to decide how much they’re willing to spend to keep their core intact. Burnes, for example, is expected to be one of the top free agents on the market this winter, with a massive nine-figure deal likely headed his way. Do the Orioles make a push to keep him? The same goes for outfielder Anthony Santander, who led the team with 44 home runs and is now eligible to test free agency after eight years in Baltimore. Letting go of such key contributors would be a tough pill for the fans to swallow.
On top of that, the Orioles have to consider extending some of their rising stars to long-term contracts. Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and catcher Adley Rutschman are all part of the team’s young nucleus. Keeping them in Baltimore during their prime years is a priority if the Orioles want to remain competitive in the coming seasons. Outfielder Colton Cowser, who made a strong case for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, might also be in line for an early extension. There’s no shortage of tough decisions ahead.
“This is what, I think, Baltimore’s been waiting for,” Elias said of Rubenstein and his partners. “They’re smart, they’re business savvy, they’re well-equipped for this. They’re going to be all in to win.” It’s a strong statement, one that offers a glimpse into the potential future of the Orioles. Rubenstein’s ownership could mark the beginning of an era where Baltimore isn’t just a feel-good story of a team that turned things around but a legitimate contender for a World Series title.
But to reach that point, the Orioles must address the most pressing issue: Why haven’t they been able to win in the playoffs? Despite a roster brimming with talent, the Orioles have fallen short in October two years in a row. Fans, who endured the painful rebuilding process, aren’t interested in hearing about “promising futures” anymore—they want results. They want championship parades.
The clock is ticking. Spring training is only a few months away, and the Orioles have a limited window to make the necessary moves. Whether it’s investing in free agents, making tough roster decisions, or retooling the coaching staff, this offseason will be crucial. As Elias put it, “It’s time to get over a new hump.” The Orioles have rebuilt themselves into a force to be reckoned with, but now it’s time to prove they can take that final step. The stakes have never been higher, and the expectations have never been greater. Will Baltimore finally live up to them? Only time will tell.
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