Five Pressing Questions Facing the Baltimore Orioles This Offseason
Baltimore's 2024 season has come to a close, thanks to another series sweep in the playoffs. How can the Orioles get over the hump?
While Virginia Tech football brings me little joy these days, I’ve been fortunate to be able to lean on the Baltimore Orioles for competitive play. That is, until they reach the postseason.
For the second straight October, the Orioles were swept out of the playoffs at home. Baltimore is now 0-5 in playoff games the last two seasons and 0-10 in playoff games since 2014 (insert audible sigh here).
Not only do the Orioles have roster decisions to make, but Baltimore has a decision to make regarding the leadership of the organization. Here are the five biggest questions facing the Baltimore Orioles this offseason:
Does Brandon Hyde Get Another Chance?
There is no doubt that Brandon Hyde is a solid manager. You don’t win 192 games over two seasons without being able to manage a clubhouse effectively. Hyde successfully navigated debilitating injuries to his roster in 2024, getting the O’s to the playoffs despite losing several starting pitchers, his closer, and several position players for long stretches of the season.
However, Hyde’s team has now fallen flat in consecutive postseasons. His bullpen management and lineup decisions have caused considerable angst amongst the fans, leaving many desiring more.
Hyde deserves a lot of credit for managing an incompetent roster for three-plus seasons. He seems to still have the respect of the locker room, though the Orioles’ second-half slide begs the question of whether or not a new approach is needed.
If I was a betting man, I’d say that Hyde retains his job this offseason. He’s an imperfect manager, but I’m not sure the Orioles would easily find someone better.
How Do The O’s Replace Corbin Burnes?
When general manager Mike Elias traded for Corbin Burnes this offseason, most expected it to be a one-year rental. Even though the Orioles gave up quite a bit (elite-level prospect Joey Ortiz and former top prospect DL Hall), the risk was worth the reward as the O’s desperately needed an ace.
Burnes delivered in 2024, finishing with a 2.92 ERA over 194.1 innings. He delivered in his AL Wild Card Series start as well, allowing just one run over eight frames. Without Burnes, it’s not outlandish to believe the Orioles might’ve missed the playoffs.
Burnes enters his age-30 season a free agent. Given how incredibly reliable he’s been over his career — he’s made 28 or more starts in each of the last four seasons — Burnes can expect a large pay day this winter. Pitchers like Burnes come available only so often, and when they do, they usually land in big markets for big money.
David Rubenstein’s purchase of the Orioles should mean the club will increase its payroll, but likely not enough to re-sign Burnes. That means Elias will need to find a replacement.
Given the number of Tommy John surgeries the Orioles starters have undergone this season, a second starter wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Do The Orioles Re-Sign Santander?
Plenty of Orioles have had stellar seasons lately. Burnes finished this year in the top-5 in ERA in the American League. Cedric Mullins’ 30-30 season in 2021 is still the only such season in club history. Gunnar Henderson swatted 37 home runs this year.
As good as those performances have been, nobody has been as consistent over the last three seasons as Anthony Santander. Check out these stats since 2022:
2022: 152 games played, .773 OPS, 33 home runs, 89 RBIs
2023: 153 games played, .797 OPS, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs
2024: 155 games played, .814 OPS, 44 home runs, 102 RBIs
Santander plays serviceable defense in Camden Yards’ small right field, which has made him an invaluable bat in the middle of Baltimore’s lineup. Santander has been outspoken about his desire to stay in Baltimore, given his tenure with the club and connection with the fanbase.
Those kinds of numbers should draw serious dollars in free agency. One positive for the Orioles is that outfielders will not be in short supply this offseason, as Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Conforto and possibly Cody Bellinger will be available this winter. Buyers will have some options.
Given the Orioles’ offensive struggles in the second half, it’s clear this lineup needs some consistency that veterans offer. There is no better candidate than Santander, the man that’s been the model of consistency for the last three seasons.
How Can the Orioles Revive Their Offense?
Speaking of offense, check out the Orioles’ combined OPS by month this season:
April: .755
May: .715
June: .846
July: .763
August: .692
September: .714
Combine that with the Orioles’ one run in two games against the Royals this postseason, and there’s plenty of concerns about the O’s offense needing some extra juice.
Getting Adley Rutschman healthy is a good start. Re-signing Santander fills a large hole that his absence would create. Improved performance from Jackson Holliday would solidify the Orioles’ infield.
For me, the biggest question in the Orioles’ lineup is at first base. Baltimore has a club option for Ryan O’Hearn, a highly productive left-handed bat that is best suited for a platoon. However, Heston Kjerstad profiles similarly, offering more upside at the plate and in the field. Do the Orioles let O’Hearn, a reliable hitter against righties, walk in free agency?
Maybe the more intriguing question is how the Orioles handle Ryan Mountcastle. After a solid 2023 season, Mountcastle saw a decrease in home runs, RBIs, walks, on-base percentage and OPS. He’s now three years removed from his 33-homer campaign in 2021. Mountcastle has two years of team control left, but he simply isn’t producing like a playoff team needs their first baseman to produce.
There were conversations of Mountcastle being dangled at the trade deadline, and I anticipate those conversations rekindling this winter. The Orioles need to upgrade their lineup from the right side, and first base might be the easiest position for them to do so.
What’s The Plan for the Bullpen?
Felix Bautista was sorely missed this season. Elias’ plan to replace him, Craig Kimbrel, was shaky for most of the year and later designated for assignment prior to the postseason.
The Orioles do have some relievers under contract worth retaining. Yennier Cano has been wild but generally effective, sporting a 2.11 ERA and a 3.15 ERA over the last two seasons. Deadline acquisition Seranthony Dominguez allowed 10 earned runs over 22.2 innings with the Orioles and has a track record of being a semi-reliable reliever. Danny Coulombe has a 2.56 ERA over 81 innings since joining the Orioles last year. Cionel Perez was less effective this season, but has been consistently healthy and available since arriving in Baltimore.
There are others under contract, but none that should preclude the Orioles from signing a couple of relievers. Bautista should be a full-go next spring, however, Elias would be wise to add one or two guys around him that can stabilize the bullpen.