The Baltimore Orioles have had a busy offseason in 2026. It started with a trade for outfielder Taylor Ward, then the massive five-year deal for first baseman Pete Alonso.
Good morning Birdland, The Orioles’ search for another rotation upgrade probably feels a lot like going to the grocery store ahead of the big snow storm about to tear through half the country.
On Friday, manager Craig Albernaz and several Oriole players joined fans and media in helping assemble meals for “Blessings in a Backpack,” a charity that provides food for students to eat during the weekends.
The Baltimore Orioles suffered through a brutal season in 2025, and that did not sit well with the team’s management, the players or Orioles fans. The Orioles had been American League playoff participants in 2023 and ’24, and most observers believed the team was going to be a postseason contender once again.
It is no secret that the Baltimore Orioles have been one of the most aggressive teams this offseason. From the trade acquisitions of Shane Baz and Taylor Ward to the free agent signings of Ryan Helsley and Pete Alonso, Baltimore has shown an unprecedented urgency in its effort to establish itself as a legitimate playoff contender.
The Rule 5 draft, held annually at the winter meetings in December, never garners much fanfare, but it has been known to yield some noteworthy transactions.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad received an important update on Friday, via Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. “Orioles manager Craig Albernaz says outfielder Heston Kjerstad (undisclosed) is expected to be a ‘full participant’ in spring training,” Weyrich wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
With Ranger Suárez, Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore now off the market, options are dwindling for the Baltimore Orioles to find a No. 1 starter before spring training.
Speculation around the league maintains that the Baltimore Orioles have one more big move left in them. The general consensus is that this move will be for a starting pitcher, and likely a free agent.
For the first time since 1996, the year the Ravens came to Baltimore, the Orioles and Ravens will have a new manager and head coach. John Harbaugh, who coached the Ravens for 18 years, even longer than Earl Weaver managed the Orioles, has moved on to the New York Giants.
The Yankees have claimed outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the Orioles, according to announcements from both clubs. Baltimore designated him for assignment a week ago.
America's favorite pastime has more memorable performances than any sport. As such, figuring out which pitchers had the best seasons ever is no easy task.
Another potential Baltimore Orioles target came off the board late Wednesday night as the Brewers and Mets agreed on a blockbuster deal that sent starter Freddy Peralta to New York.
Picture the scene. An Orioles hitter works his way into an extended at-bat. On a 3-2 pitch, he lays off of one that’s outside the zone and starts to head to first base — only for the ump to ring him up on a called strike three.
The Baltimore Orioles will enter the 2026 season as a completely different team. But despite parting with some key prospects, the team still has a strong presence on the Top 100 Prospects list from Baseball America.
On Wednesday, Baseball America released its Top 100 prospects list for the season, kicking off the unofficial top prospect list season that will play out between now and the start of the regular season.
With pitchers and catchers starting to report to spring training in one month, free agency is heading into the home stretch. As teams work to finalize their rosters, the Baltimore Orioles have been quiet after doing a lot of their work early in the offseason.
The Baltimore Orioles signed several international free agents to their farm system as they seek to replenish their minor league depth. They have signed 10 international free agents, one of the lowest nets per team so far.
Since A.J. Preller has been in control of the Padres’ front office, San Diego has not been shy to make the aggressive move. The Padres made several of those in-season last year, which helped the MLB roster but depleted the farm system.
One day after the Atlanta Braves received news that their shortstop for 2026, Ha-Seong Kim, suffered a hand injury, they found their stopgap at shortstop until his return.
The Orioles announced they have claimed left-hander José Suarez off waivers from the Braves. It wasn’t previously reported that Atlanta had bumped Suarez from their roster but they apparently tried to quietly sneak him through waivers.
The Orioles announced that outfielder Jhonkensy Noel has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He will stay in Baltimore’s system but without taking up a spot on the roster.
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with most of their arbitration-eligible players before the Jan. 8 deadline. Baltimore did not agree to terms with two players, pitchers Keegan Akin and Kyle Bradish, and will not head to a hearing.
The Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration by reaching agreement with star shortstop Gunnar Hendeson on an $8.5 million contract for the 2026 season, MLB.com reported on Thursday.