LAS VEGAS — The buzz has been growing around the Orioles this week at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas. This offseason could be the one in which Baltimore steps up its aggressiveness considerably and dips into the deeper end of the free-agent market.
The O’s, coming off a disappointing 75-87 showing in 2025, want to turn things back around quickly. Spending a greater amount of money could be one way to help make that happen.
So, what does the guy in charge of making such decisions for the Orioles have to say about it?
“We’re still down from where our 2025 payroll was. We’ve got quite a bit to go just to get back to 2025 levels, and I think that’s definitely a possibility if we want to go there, and we’ll assess opportunities beyond that,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon. “I think we’re just going to look at things on a case-by-case basis. The ownership group has a lot of willingness to invest, but also wants to win. …
“This is a group that’s really enabling us to invest. We’re going to go out in the market, see what we’re able to do to improve the team. But we’ll definitely be behaving as buyers this season, whether it’s free agency or trade.”
Elias laid out his offseason wish list in terms of adding to the roster with three major needs:
1. A frontline starting pitcher
The O’s already have two top-of-the-rotation arms in right-hander Kyle Bradish and lefty Trevor Rogers, who received one fifth-place vote for the American League Cy Young Award this year. But it would be beneficial to add a starter such as Dylan Cease, Michael King or someone of that ilk to the group.
“My stated goal is to see if we can add somebody that fits into that tier,” Elias said. “That would be Plan A for our rotation.”
2. A back-end reliever, preferably one with closing experience
Félix Bautista (right shoulder surgery) won’t return until late August/September, at the earliest. So the Orioles entered the offseason without a closer on their roster.
Elias always aims to utilize a set closer — rather than a collection of arms in a committee approach — and that will be no different in this situation. The free-agent closer market this offseason features top arms such as Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, Devin Williams and more.
“It’s at the top of our list, and we’re being very intentful in talking with those free agents and checking in on trade possibilities there,” Elias said. “So I would really like to get that. Obviously, there’s many ways to build a bullpen, and it’s something that teams and front offices can sort of do over the course of a season. But our preference is to land an experienced closer this winter.”
3. A veteran hitter, likely one to add to the outfield mix
Baltimore lost its everyday center fielder when it traded Cedric Mullins to the Mets on July 31. Colton Cowser took over that role down the stretch — and proved he could handle it, in Elias’ view — though the preference has been to play Cowser in a corner.
“Leody definitely helps protect us in that area. But there’s still room for more center-field help/depth on the roster, at a minimum,” Elias said. “We’re into those markets.”
In previous offseasons, the Orioles have been more likely to make bigger splashes via the trade market. They landed ace right-hander Corbin Burnes in a deal with the Brewers prior to the 2024 season, dealing from their prospect capital to bolster their rotation.
Baltimore could again be active with trades. It replenished its farm system this year, thanks to both the 2025 MLB Draft and its July Trade Deadline sell-off, when it moved nine big league players in exchange for a host of prospects.
But the O’s aren’t going to shy away from free agency. They’re even open to signing players with qualifying offers attached, Elias said, willing to lose a Draft pick if the right scenario with a top available player presents itself.
The Orioles aren’t going to spend for the sake of saying they can do it, but Elias said there’s a “target zone” presented by ownership, one that can be flexible given the wealth of the group.
“We’re trying to win, and this ownership group is willing to dip into the red considerably in order to do that,” Elias said. “It doesn’t mean we want to do it in a propagate way that haunts us. But in the short term, we recognize we’ve got a core that could use some supplementation and that wants to win and bounce back from what happened last year.”
