Three biggest offseason questions facing Orioles

While the regular season was once again a success for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, the postseason proved again to be a disappointment. After exiting the playoffs early in the last two seasons, can the Orioles not only get back to the postseason in 2025, but also go deep into October as well?

The answer to that question may ride on what Baltimore decides to do this offseason in three key areas. With that in mind, let's look at three roster areas the Orioles will be closely watching over the winter and spring.

Will Baltimore spend to keep Corbin Burnes?

There is little doubt that Burnes impressed in his first season with the Orioles, making 32 starts and throwing 194.1 innings while posting a 2.92 ERA/3.55 FIP/1.096 WHIP. His 15 wins and 128 ERA+ were just some of the categories where he led Baltimore starters in 2024, proving that he was indeed the ace of the rotation.

However, now the Orioles face a difficult decision if they want to keep the 30-year-old right-hander in Baltimore for the near future. It has been estimated that Burnes will land a contract in the neighborhood of seven years and more than $200 million this offseason. The average annual value (AAV) would be around $30 million per season, making him by far the highest-paid Oriole. With Zach Eflin currently being the only other Baltimore player making more than $10 million next season (per Spotrac, $18 million), this would mark a dramatic shift in Orioles spending in recent seasons.

Burnes is expected to be one of the most sought after starting pitchers this offseason. Will Baltimore spend what it takes to keep him?

Can the young players hold down the right side of the infield?

Is Jackson Holliday the starting second baseman for Baltimore? Could Coby Mayo, Baltimore's top prospect, be the long-term answer at first base? Answering those two questions will play a big role in determining the Orioles' free agent infield strategies this offseason.

At the age of 20, Holliday got 190 MLB at-bats last season, and there were some growing pains as he slashed just .189/.255/.311 with an OPS+ of 66. He will need to show the spring that he can be the everyday second baseman and help be a boost for an Orioles offense that scored a combined one run in two postseason games against the Kansas City Royals.

Like Holliday, Mayo got a taste of facing MLB pitching in 2024, going 4-for-41 in limited action. While he added MLB appearances to his resume last season, he also added more time at first base, appearing in four games at first with the Orioles and 23 at Triple-A as well. It's the second consecutive season where Mayo, who has played 300 minor league and 12 MLB games at third base, has more than 20 MiLB starts at first base. Could it be a sign of things to come?

Can catcher be a strength?

Adley Rutschman's OPS plunged from .809 in 2023 to .709 last season. He is still considered one of the game's top catchers, but the drop in production is something to watch, especially if he struggles early in the season.

Backup catcher James McCann was a veteran presence for the Orioles behind the plate for the last two seasons. Now the 34-year-old is a free agent, and the Orioles will need to decide if he is the player who can complement Rutschman once again this season.

Baltimore's combined bWAR of 3.5 behind the plate placed the Orioles fourth among MLB's 30 teams in 2023. That number dropped to 3.0 and eighth, respectively, last season. With that in mind, if Baltimore is going to improve the offense in 2025, catcher is a position to watch for positives.