2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 17
With Baltimore eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was for the Orioles, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.
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Read more:MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?
Things that went right
You have to squint to find things that went right for the 2025 Orioles, who were arguably the most disappointing team in baseball. After five straight losing seasons from 2017 to ‘21, Baltimore’s deep rebuild was supposed to yield a long-term contender. Instead, the 2025 Orioles followed three straight winning seasons and two consecutive postseason appearances by being the worst team in the AL East.
A pair of veterans, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano, exceeded expectations and gave the organization valuable trade chips at the deadline. And after a slow start in April, Gunnar Henderson was solid from May through the end of the season, albeit without the power skills that helped him finish fourth in 2024 AL MVP voting.
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On the mound, Félix Bautista made a successful return from Tommy John surgery and reestablished himself as a reliable closer, but he missed most of the second half due to a shoulder strain. Finally, Trevor Rogers became a major bright spot in an otherwise disappointing rotation. He leads the majors with a 1.53 ERA since his return to the big leagues on June 18.
Things that went wrong
The Orioles started slowly and were unable to climb out of the basement. They were 15 games below .500 at the end of May and were never able to put together the kind of winning streak necessary to get out of that hole.
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The pitching staff was not only the biggest problem but also an issue most observers saw coming. The organization did little last winter to account for the loss of Corbin Burnes in free agency, and to make matters worse, the team’s top remaining starter, Grayson Rodriguez, couldn’t get past an elbow injury. The likes of Dean Kremer, Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton all had brutal stretches at one point or another this season. And the bullpen was only marginally better, as it spent most of the season ranked among the bottom 10 in ERA.
There were nearly as many disappointments at the plate as there were on the mound. Adley Rutschman was the highest profile letdown. He was supposed to rebound from a poor second half in 2024 and return to being one of the best young catchers in baseball. Instead, Rutschman regressed further, a huge problem when factoring in that he usually hit second in the lineup. Ascending youngsters Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser both missed a significant portion of the first half due to injuries, free-agent signee Tyler O’Neill was a massive bust, and Ryan Mountcastle’s contributions were virtually nonexistent. Former prospects such as Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo did not take the next step, and with that, a lineup that was supposed to be among the best in baseball was full of holes from top to bottom.
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Offseason outlook
The Orioles are set at most infield spots, assuming they can count on some key players to improve. Rutschman is the biggest wild card, as he could be anything from one of baseball’s most productive catchers to an afterthought who hits low in the lineup. Jackson Holliday is locked in at second base, though he didn’t reach base often enough when given the leadoff spot and likely belongs in the bottom half of the lineup until he improves. Henderson is set at shortstop, and Westburg will handle third base. Ideally, they’ll be the two best hitters on the team. Mayo received opportunities at first base after the trade deadline and could battle Mountcastle in spring training for a regular role. Top prospect Samuel Basallo debuted down the stretch and could spend 2026 rotating among catcher, first base and DH.
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The outfield is in rough shape. Corner infielders Cowser and O’Neill will try to bounce back from inconsistent, injury-impacted seasons. Cowser is the better bet there, as O’Neill has a long track record of enigmatic campaigns. Cowser also benefits from being able to play center field. Dylan Carlson played more often after Cedric Mullins was traded at the deadline, but he hasn’t shown enough to be considered for anything more than a backup role. The same can be said of Kjerstad, who once again looked overmatched when given opportunities. Prospects Dylan Beavers and Jeremiah Jackson showed enough down the stretch to receive strong consideration for the Opening Day lineup.
The Orioles figure to lose some rotation members to free agency (Eflin, Sugano), which might not be a bad thing. Rogers will be counted on to continue the upward trajectory he started this summer. The hope is that Rodriguez will be fully recovered from his elbow woes by the start of spring training. The team will also hope for a full season from Kyle Bradish, who logged a 2.83 ERA across 30 starts in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. Bradish fared well when he returned down the stretch this season, which raised optimism for 2026. Kremer should fit well as the fourth or fifth starter. Former prospect Cade Povich has struggled thus far in the majors, but he’s still just 25 years old and will get more opportunities. Overall, this group could really use at least one more dependable member.
Bautista will be back to anchor the bullpen, and he will hopefully enjoy better health next year. But once we look past Bautista, things get ugly in a hurry. Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano have had success in the past but didn’t fare well this year. The rest of the relievers will be doing well just to make the team.
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Prospects on the horizon
The Orioles used to have one of baseball’s richest farm systems but now boast just one elite prospect, Basallo. The 21-year-old can play catcher or first base, and he was one of the best hitters in Triple-A this year, prior to his call-up. Basallo could spend all of 2026 in the majors, sliding among catcher, first base and designated hitter. He’s the middle-of-the-order thumper this lineup needs.
The outfield could get some help from Beavers and Enrique Bradfield Jr. After a stellar season in Triple-A, Beavers debuted in August. He could be the answer in center but profiles more as a corner outfielder. Bradfield, who was a first-round draft pick in 2023, is more of a pure center fielder. Unfortunately, he has yet to reach Triple-A, which means his possible contributions in Baltimore are more likely to come in the second half of 2026.
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There are a few pitchers in the organization who could debut in 2026, such as Michael Forret, Braxton Bragg and Juaron Watts-Brown. However, they’re long shots to immediately make an impact.
Goals for 2026
The front office needs to turn this team around in a hurry. Orioles fans suffered through several losing seasons in order to build a sustainable contender. The team was supposed to have one of the deepest pools of young hitters in baseball, yet through a combination of poor trades and a lack of development, they now have an average offense at best. This is hardly the outcome David Rubenstein expected when he bought the team in 2024.
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And the pitching staff needs major repairs. The Orioles should be significant players in the free-agent market, adding at least one starter and a couple of reliable relievers. There’s also a need in center field, and in the big picture, the organization needs to decide if Mayo and Kjerstad are ready for larger roles. There’s a chance that they have been surpassed by the likes of Basallo and Beavers.
Fantasy focus
Despite the lack of 2025 success, there will be plenty of interest in Baltimore players in 2026 drafts. Henderson will be a second-round pick in most drafts, and some of his lineup mates, including Westburg, Rutschman and Holliday, will be selected in the middle rounds. Basallo could also be a middle-round pick, depending on his projected playing time.
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Bautista is the only current member of the pitching staff who will warrant a significant draft investment. He should be tabbed in the range of the 10th closer off the board. Rodriguez profiles as the ideal late-round pick, as he has massive upside if he is finally past his injury woes.
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