BALTIMORE — This time last year, the Baltimore Orioles made a significant move during the offseason by acquiring right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes. However, this acquisition ended up being a temporary arrangement, as Burnes signed with Arizona in late December. The Orioles now face a pressing deadline if they wish to find a reliable ace to fill the void left by Burnes prior to the start of spring training.
General manager Mike Elias discussed the current state of the team during the Birdland Caravan event on Friday, expressing optimism while acknowledging the available time before the offseason concludes. “We like where we’re at, but there’s still time on the clock before the offseason’s over,” Elias remarked. He mentioned that both free agency and trade opportunities can arise unexpectedly, making it difficult to predict future moves.
Under new ownership for the first time, the Orioles have made some investments but haven’t engaged in any major trades like the one for Burnes. They have welcomed new talent, including outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Carlson, alongside starting pitchers Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano. Additional acquisitions include reliever Andrew Kittredge and backup catcher Gary Sánchez. However, apart from O’Neill, all these players have only been signed for short-term contracts.
As a result of these signings, along with raises for arbitration-eligible players, the Orioles’ payroll now ranks 15th in Major League Baseball, according to Spotrac. This represents a considerable increase for a team that had been at the bottom of the league in salary expenditures not long ago. Nevertheless, the Orioles currently have minimal financial obligations extending into the 2026 season and beyond.
The strategy behind maintaining low future spending is likely tied to the presence of several promising young players on the roster, such as Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, and Jordan Westburg. These athletes may command substantial salaries as they progress in their careers. “There are benefits to having year-to-year flexibility,” Elias noted, adding that this strategy may evolve moving forward and potentially shift by next year’s discussions.
Currently, the Orioles have yet to secure long-term agreements with their younger stars. This short-term focus could come with its own challenges. For instance, the team is set to pay 41-year-old Morton and 35-year-old Sugano a total of $28 million this year. In contrast, the New York Yankees have recently signed All-Star pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year deal worth $218 million, averaging about $27.25 million annually.
While Fried’s contract may present its own risks, it illustrates why pitchers of his caliber receive longer commitments. The Orioles’ prospects for success in 2025 may hinge on how well their pitching rotation sustains itself after losing Burnes and incorporating only short-term signings through free agency.
In light of these developments, team owner David Rubenstein recently expressed a desire for a salary cap in baseball during an interview with Yahoo Finance. This stance suggests he may not be as inclined to make bold signings, which could leave fans wanting more following his acquisition of the franchise last season, particularly considering its roster filled with young, cost-effective players.
The progression of the Orioles’ payroll has been measured rather than explosive. “We’ve been consistently raising the payroll since the start of the rebuild,” Elias explained. “This was the case before David Rubenstein’s group acquired the team, but since their purchase, it has certainly broadened our options considerably.”
As the Orioles strive for a third consecutive postseason appearance, Elias seems unfazed by the aggressive spending strategies of other teams, particularly the Los Angeles Dodgers. Commenting on their recent acquisitions, including Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Roki Sasaki—players added to an already successful championship roster—Elias stated, “I’m glad they’re in the National League West. They’re a great organization at the top of their game right now. Hopefully, that will be a challenge we face in the World Series, but kudos to them.”
