The Orioles are looking for an impact hitter, according to reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Kubatko adds that the outfield is the most likely area that Baltimore can add, as they are decent behind the plate and in the infield.
The O’s just finished a disappointing 2025 season. After making the playoffs in the previous two campaigns, they fell to the cellar of the American League East this year, finishing 75-87. Their lack of rotation depth played a big role in that, but the lineup wasn’t great either. The team posted a combined .235/.305/.394. The resulting 96 wRC+ was better than just nine clubs in the majors.
As mentioned, the outfield is probably the best place to add some extra power. Carlo Mullins, Ramón Laureano And Ryan O’Hearn were all traded at the deadline. They will likely decline their $5.5 million club option Jorge Mateo. That leaves the O’s with an outfield mix consisting of Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, Heston Kjerstad, Dylan Bevers And Jeremiah Jackson.
Cowser took over the center field job after the Mullins trade. His glovework there was decent, but his offense dipped from the previous year. He had hit .242/.321/.447 for a 119 wRC+ in 2024, but finished 2025 with a .196/.269/.385 line and 83 wRC+. He missed April and May due to a broken thumb and then suffered some broken ribs in June, which he played through. It’s possible that a return to health is all he needs to recover, but right now he’s a question mark.
O’Neill also had an injury-marred season, which is fairly normal for him. He played just 54 games and has just one career season of more than 113 games. He can opt out of the two years and $33 million remaining on his deal, but has little incentive to do so after hitting .199/.292/.392 in 2025. Perhaps next year he will be rotated through the designated hitter more often to limit wear and tear.
Carlson played 83 games, but hit just .203/.278/.336. Kjerstad tries to find answers related to an unreported medical condition. Beavers and Jackson both put up good numbers, but both have still played fewer than 50 games in the big league.
Kubatko suggests an external acquisition could take center stage, given the uncertainty at Cowser. It is possible that Enrique Bradfield will take over the job long-term, but Kubatko indicates he has had some hamstring problems, a concern because speed is such a big part of his game. He also only has fifteen Triple-A games under his belt and likely needs more time there.
The center field free agent market doesn’t have many guys who can be classified as impact bats. Cody Bellinger is having a good year, but he may be a product of the short porch at Yankee Stadium. Either way, he’s likely leaning toward a nine-figure deal and it’s hard to expect the O’s to be the ones to offer it. Trent Grisham has had a fantastic season, but his previous campaigns have been tough, leaving you right to wonder if this was a flash in the pan.
Then the options fade away. Harrison Bader had some good numbers this year, but mainly due to a high batting average on balls in play. Re-signing Mullins is an option, but he was awful this year. Luis Robert Jr. should be available on the trade market, but he has not been healthy and well behaved for a few years. Jarren Duran A lot of trade rumors have emerged, but the Sox haven’t dealt him and they probably wouldn’t pull the trigger on a division rival. Maybe Alex Thomas or Brenton Doyle could be available, but they are both coming off poor offensive seasons.
Perhaps first base would be another area the O’s could add depending on their plans for guys currently on the roster. Adley Rutschman continues as the primary catcher. That could leave Samuel Basallo spends a lot of time as a DH or at first base. If Basallo starts to take into account in the cold corner, it could have consequences for boys like Coby Mayo And Ryan Mountcastle. Mayo didn’t have a great year, but at least finished strong, with a .223/.316/.424 line and 109 wRC+ in the second half. Mountcastle looks like a non-recommended prospect as he has had a down season and is expected to make a salary of $7.8 million.
Even without Mountcastle, at-bats could be tough to find. Rutschman, Basallo and Mayo could coexist in three spots, with one at catcher, one at first base and the other DHing, although that doesn’t leave much room for O’Neill and other players to rotate through the DH spot. If the O’s feel that Mayo and/or Basallo need more time in the minors, then it might be better to go after a first baseman. There are more impact bats there, and the market is playing along Pete Alonso, Josh NaylorO’Hearn, Rhys Hoskins, Luis Arraez and others. Old friend Lewin Diaz hit 50 home runs in Korea this year. The trading market could contain bats Christian Walker, Triston Casas And Jake Burger.
When it comes to payroll, the O’s could technically do anything. They have virtually no future liabilities on the books. Grid source says they had a payroll of $160 million in 2025, but will only be $69 million next year. However, they haven’t been very aggressive in free agency lately. O’Neill’s deal is the only multi-year pact the O’s have given a free agent since Mike Elias began leading the front office seven years ago.
Photo courtesy of James A. Pittman, Imagn Images
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