Grading Mike Elias’ Offseason for the Baltimore Orioles

The following piece takes a fresh look at the Orioles’ busy offseason, digging into how the club reshaped its lineup, rotation, and bullpen. It weighs the obvious positives—think improved depth and power—against the nagging questions about bullpen reliability and bench coverage as spring creeps closer.

There’s also a glimpse at how GM Mike Elias’ plan landed: a mid-to-high B+ grade. What does that mean for Baltimore’s ceiling this year? Well, that’s still up for debate.

Offseason moves: offense, depth, and a plan to compete

The Orioles went after offensive punch and defensive flexibility, hoping to spark more run production and keep their roster versatile. The front office wanted a lineup built to last through a tough schedule and, just as importantly, some backup behind the regulars.

They didn’t land a true ace, but the sheer number of moves shows they’re serious about competing from the jump. There’s a sense that they’re ready to tweak things as the season unfolds, too.

Offensive impact: power, balance, and bench versatility

• Pete Alonso — brings big-time power to the heart of the order and should drive in plenty of runs.
• Taylor Ward — adds contact skills and can move around the diamond, catching or covering the outfield and corners.
• Blaze Alexander — a late pickup for bench flexibility and defensive depth.

These moves help balance the lineup against both hard throwers and softer arms. Baltimore now has more ways to mix and match in late innings or when facing tough pitching, and that’s a big part of their plan this season.

Rotation and bullpen: strengthening depth without chasing a true ace

The rotation got a much-needed boost, with several arms ready to eat innings and keep the team in tight games. The bullpen, though improved, is still a bit of a question mark as spring nears.

They brought in experienced starters and leaned on veteran relievers to steady the late innings. Still, that elusive front-line closer? Not quite there yet.

Rotation depth and high-upside arms

Now there are six legit big-league arms in the rotation—Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers headline, with Zach Eflin and Chris Bassitt offering steady depth. Shane Baz is the wild card, a high-upside arm who might just turn into a #2 starter down the line.

• Six arms in the rotation means the Orioles have coverage for the long haul and can get creative game to game.
• There are real concerns with Ryan Helsley and how the late innings will shake out, especially after his rocky finish with the Mets.

Bullpen stability vs. reliability concerns

The bullpen added Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge to try and lock down the late innings. Even with those names, there’s some unease—Helsley’s finish last year wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring.

The Orioles will have to hope these arms step up and bridge the gap from the starters to the final outs.

Injuries and bench depth: testing the roster’s resilience

Injuries have already started to poke holes in the roster. Setbacks for Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday just underline how much they’ll need their bench and some defensive flexibility.

The club’s made it clear: depth matters. But the bench will have to actually produce when called on, especially if the schedule gets tight or the DL starts filling up.

Overall outlook and grading: room to grow, but the path is clearer

Some folks give GM Mike Elias a B+ for this offseason. The Alonso signing and a stronger rotation earn most of the praise.

The bullpen still feels shaky, honestly. Still, the new arms and added depth give the Orioles a better base than last year.

These moves should make Baltimore more competitive. There’s flexibility to tweak the bullpen as the season goes on, which feels like a smart balance of risk and upside.

Baltimore heads into spring training with a clearer plan. The 2026 roster might not be perfect, but you can see a disciplined approach to building a contender—one that’s ready to adjust and pounce on chances as they come up.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles question of the moment: What grade would you give Elias for this offseason?