With the blockbuster signing of first baseman Pete Alonso the Baltimore Orioles have proven themselves to be big movers this offseason. Other notable moves the team has made include the signing of reliever Ryan Helsley and trading for outfielder Taylor Ward. Here are a few moves the Orioles should look to make to put the team in the best position to chase hardware in 2026.
Framber Valdez, SP, Free Agent
The team has proven that ownership is ready to pay a successful roster. The next logical step would be to go after a starting pitcher and nail down their ace for an already talented rotation. Framber Valdez is a great option to do so. He has already been linked to the Orioles and has a past relationship with President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias from their shared time with the Houston Astros. Valdez, 32 is one of the top prizes in this years free agent class and would provide consistency and a winning pedigree to the Orioles rotation.
Valdez has received Cy Young votes in four of the last six seasons and posts an impressive 3.06 ERA in his last four seasons. The two-time all-star also played an integral part in the Astros’ 2022 World Series victory. He garnered a 1.44 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 25 innings during that playoff run. He is exactly what the Orioles need atop their rotation and they should be willing to pay the veteran ace.
Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins
The Orioles should be aggressive in the trade market as well this offseason. With the additions of Alonso and Ward, they have created a log jam for several top prospects. Rumors have been swirling around Twins starter Joe Ryan for a couple of years now. The Orioles should not be afraid to pull the trigger. Ryan, 29, has been impressive so far in his career with the Twins, but with the team restarting their rebuild at the trade deadline in July, the Orioles have the prospects to help them speed up the process.
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Ryan has had a WHIP of 1.013 over the last two seasons and was an All-Star for the first time in 2025. In that same time he has struck out an impressive 10 batters per nine innings while walking less than 40 batters in each of those two seasons. The Orioles should not be afraid to offer prospects that will be log jammed in the future. Coby Mayo is a prime candidate alongside pitching prospects like Trey Gibson or Chayce McDermott. A deal like this would similar to the one that the Orioles made in 2024 for Corbin Burnes that saw a top infield prospect and pitching prospect sent to the Milwuakee Brewers and proved fruitful for both teams involved.
Luke Weaver, RP, Free Agent
Signing Luke Weaver should be an easy deal for the Orioles to make. Weaver, 32, played an integral part in the New York Yankees AL Pennant run in 2024. He would provide versatility to the Orioles’ bullpen. Weaver has the ability to close games and go multiple innings in relief. His numbers were not as stellar in 2025 as in 2024. Weaver would be a cheaper option for the Orioles to bring in a veteran presence in relief.
While signing Weaver would not be the flashiest move the Orioles could make it would provide important innings from a known winner in a playoff push.
Harrison Bader, OF, Free Agent
While the Orioles outfield is crowded, especially with the addition of Taylor Ward, Harrison Bader would still be an upgrade. Bader is a gold glove caliber center fielder, which the Orioles could use having finished in the bottom third of the league in Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value.
In addition to his defensive prowess, Bader had career highs in 2025 in average, home runs, RBI, WAR, OPS, and hits. He would provide an offensive and defensive upgrade to a young and unproven Orioles outfield. The addition of Bader would also make it likely for an outfielder like Colton Cowser to be traded. Outfield prospects like Slater de Brun, Nate George, or Vance Honeycutt to hit the trading block.
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