The Orioles' off-seasons in the past few years have had their ups and downs, and this year was no different. Going into the off-season, the Orioles aimed to add right-handed hitting depth and some quality pitching to compensate for (at the time, most likely) losing their ace, Corbin Burnes.
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| The most notable offseason news was Corbin Burnes, one of the best pitchers in baseball, leaving for Arizona. |
A few notable players from the Orioles decided to test free agency, including long-time Oriole John Means, veteran catcher James McCann, and Eloy Jiménez, who after a brief stint with the Orioles, signed a contract with the Rays this off-season. Both Means and McCann have yet to sign with a team as of the time this article was written. To my dismay, the Orioles did lose some key players officially this off-season, including bullpen depth pieces such as Jacob Webb to the Rangers and Danny Coulombe to the Twins. Adding to that, switch-hitting power threat Anthony Santander inked a $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays this off-season. To top off the losses, Corbin Burnes, the Orioles' ace during the 2024 season, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a 6-year, $210 million contract.
At the start of the off-season, it seemed almost certain that Corbin Burnes would be leaving, so most Orioles fans simply thought, “Who’s going to replace him?” That question still remains. The Orioles didn’t make the moves that will completely compensate for the loss of their former ace, but there is still some positive upside. The Orioles were able to acquire four pitchers to add depth this off-season thus far.
The first move made was for 35-year-old NPB star Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano pitched for the Yomiuri Giants over his 12-season NPB career. He wrapped up those 12 seasons with 136 wins, an ERA of 2.45, 22 shutouts, 1,595 strikeouts, and 1,873.1 innings pitched. Sugano has received eight all-star nods, three Central League MVPs, and two Sawamura awards, which are given to the top starting pitcher in all of NPB each year.
The second move the Orioles made was for another veteran pitcher, but this time a seasoned MLB vet in Charlie Morton. Morton, who had just concluded his 17th season and his fourth consecutive season with the Atlanta Braves, will bring a positive veteran dynamic to this clubhouse and hopefully help develop and mentor the young guns the Orioles hope can grow. Morton’s 17th season wasn’t much to write home about, finishing with a 4.19 ERA and 167 strikeouts over the course of 165.1 innings. Morton will definitely add much-needed depth but is still not the missing piece.
The third move the Orioles made was for the intriguing Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge is a much-needed depth piece for the Baltimore bullpen and will help reduce pressure on the returning Félix Bautista. After finishing his 8th season, he has shown strong signs of being a reliable reliever. Last season, he finished with a 2.80 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and only 10 walks in 70.2 innings of work.
The final pitching move thus far was for Roansy Contreras, whom they claimed off waivers from the Reds. However, they DFA'd him six days later. A few days after that, he was claimed by the Yankees, only to be DFA'd again and eventually claimed by the Orioles once more on February 7th. Contreras is, simply put, a depth piece. He is a career 4.72 ERA starter turned reliever and will most likely be one of those relievers who gets moved around a lot this season.
Wow, so now you’re thinking that these pitching moves really don’t bolster our chances at making a postseason run, do they? What about the moves for hitters, though? Well, this off-season, the Orioles acquired four notable players to add depth to the team.
The first move was for veteran catcher Gary Sanchez. Sanchez just finished his 10th season and is most notable for his days with the New York Yankees from 2015-2021. Sanchez will replace McCann as the backup catcher for the Orioles and may serve as a mentor for the still somewhat young Adley Rutschman.
The second and most notable move was for power-hitting outfielder Tyler O’Neill. O’Neill, who just finished his first season with the Boston Red Sox (seventh season overall), will be key to filling the gaping void left by Anthony Santander. O’Neill hit 31 home runs with a .241 average in 113 games. The key to O’Neill’s success will be keeping him healthy, as he already has the skills needed to succeed.
The third move was for young outfielder Dylan Carlson. Carlson, a former 13th-ranked prospect in the 2021 MLB.com prospect rankings, has yet to show the potential for a lasting career in the big leagues. Carlson will most likely be a depth piece in the outfield and a player moving up and down this season. His numbers from last season with the Cardinals and Rays aren’t impressive—three home runs and a .209 batting average.
The final move thus far was for outfielder Ramón Laureano. Laureano, who spent most of his career with the Athletics, just finished his seventh season with the Guardians and Braves, recording 11 home runs and a .259 average. Like Carlson, Laureano will likely be another depth piece, useful in certain scenarios, as right-handed bats are limited on the Orioles roster.
After analyzing this off-season, I would rate it a C+. The Orioles' off-season has been less eventful than hoped for, but positive moves were made. The real question, though, will be whether these moves are enough to make the playoffs and have a successful run.
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