Orioles Mailbag: Answers to Your Latest Fan Questions

The Baltimore Orioles are in that weird, quiet stretch of the offseason. It’s the time when deadlines, waiver wire moves, and internal debates matter more than the big, flashy signings.

Arbitration talks are paused. The international signing period is coming up, and the front office is shuffling the roster, laying pieces that could affect 2025 and maybe even further down the road.

Arbitration Deadline Passes as Focus Shifts Elsewhere

The Orioles didn’t strike deals with their arbitration-eligible players before the league’s deadline. Honestly, that’s pretty standard stuff in baseball and doesn’t usually mean there’s trouble brewing.

Now, the focus shifts to the international signing period and whatever roster tweaks might be next. These little moves can pile up and make a difference, especially for a team that leans on depth and flexibility instead of big-money contracts.

Understanding Recent Waiver Activity

Some recent moves—like Will Robertson being outrighted and George Soriano heading to the Braves—got fans talking. But let’s be real, those transactions probably won’t change much for the Orioles in 2026.

The quick turnaround with Jhonkensy Noel is a good example of how front offices work now. He got claimed off waivers, then designated for assignment two days later, and might stick around if he clears waivers again. It’s all about keeping the 40-man roster flexible and holding onto depth where they can.

Roster Depth Over Splash Spending

Baltimore keeps hunting for depth in low-risk ways—trades, waiver claims, you name it. Players like Payton Eeles and Marco Luciano fit their vibe: young, controllable, and not costing the team much.

The Orioles aren’t likely to splurge on a utility player unless something drastic happens. This front office likes versatility, but they don’t want to clog up payroll or waste roster spots just to make a move.

Why Fans Overreact to Waiver Moves

Waiver moves always seem to get fans riled up, but honestly, they happen all the time across MLB. Teams use waivers to:

The Orioles do this too, and it rarely means they’re unhappy with the core roster.

Pitching Targets and Rotation Outlook

If the Orioles do something bigger, it’ll probably be for starting pitching. They’ve been linked to arms like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Zac Gallen.

Valdez seems to be the slight favorite, but who knows? The market could push them in any direction.

Bradish Leads, Competition Follows

Right now, Kyle Bradish is the guy they see as the ace and likely Opening Day starter. After him, Trevor Rogers is penciled in at No. 2.

Shane Baz, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells are all battling for spots. Zach Eflin’s health is still a question mark and could shake things up.

Broadcast Notes and Defensive Concerns

Off the field, broadcaster Kevin Brown keeps coming up as a possible NBC hire, but he’s still under contract with MASN. Nothing’s set in stone, so it’s all rumors for now.

On the field, defense is still a real worry. The Orioles ranked 24th in Defensive Runs Saved and 23rd in Outs Above Average last season. Those numbers don’t lie—they’ve got work to do.

Reasons for Defensive Optimism

There’s actually some optimism that things will get better. Players like Tyler O’Neill, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg might settle into more defined roles, which could help stabilize the club’s fielding.

The Orioles aren’t limiting non-40-man invites to spring training, and they’re using a second clubhouse to fit all the extra players. It feels like they’re determined to evaluate as much talent as possible, and honestly, that patient, methodical approach has kind of become their thing.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Still more mailbag questions