The Baltimore Orioles went into 2026 with a ton of optimism. They had a core of talent, a couple of high ranking prospects on the cusp, and signed a big veteran bat in Pete Alonso to give them some feared thump in the lineup. However, the 2026 Orioles mostly limped along through the season, rotating between 500 baseball to 9 games below at their worst, finishing with a 79-82 record, good for 4th place. We talked to Tyler Young of Camden Chat about their takeaways from the 2026 season and what the Orioles can look forward to in 2027.
With the 2026 season in the rearview mirror, what do Orioles fans think are the key takeaways, both good and bad on the season?
I think the big takeaway from most in the fan base is that there is something deeply flawed about the front office. There are just too many things not working out for it to be a coincidence. The homegrown hitters have regressed, the former top prospects aren’t living up to the hype, major injuries hit right at the start of spring training every year, and the team has consistently under-performed its perceived talent level ever since the all-star break in 2024. Many fans want Mike Elias, the team’s president of baseball operations, gone. Instead, the ownership group is committing to increase the size of the front office and has already hired a GM (Jared Banner) under Elias that will be responsible for solving some of those issues I mentioned earlier, while Elias focuses on talent evaluation. It’s good that they are doing something, but it’s unclear how much it will move the needle. On the field, it’s all pretty negative, though I think most fans are cautiously optimistic on the pitching side of things. There is organizational stability in that area, and the club does seem to get the most out of the talent they have on the mound.
What would you consider the team front office’s priority to be this offseason (assuming we’ll have baseball like normal next year)?
Outfield help probably needs to be the top priority. Colton Cowser is the only name you can pencil in with any confidence, and I’m not even sure they want him to play against left-handed pitching. There is speculation that they could convert one of their infielders to play in a corner spot. Coby Mayo is a candidate there, but others think Jackson Holliday could do it as well. The front office probably still needs external help in any case. Starting rotation additions are number two.
Who would be the key players targeted in Free Agency or by trade for the team this offseason, and likewise, is there any players you expect to be traded by the team?
I do think a reunion with Trevor Rogers makes sense. As of this writing, they have extended him the qualifying offer, which Rogers will probably decline. He’s been the team’s best pitcher over the last two seasons, and has seemed to enjoy his time in Baltimore. If that doesn’t come through, I would expect them to make a hard push for Reid Detmers in a trade. The Orioles and Angels have made several deals since Elias arrived, and Elias likes trading for pitchers with years of control left. It would be expensive, but might be worth it. Recent reporting indicates that the Orioles are open to trading anyone but Pete Alonso this offseason. I just don’t know how much value anyone outside of Gunnar Henderson really has, and even he has been less than what they expected recently. They probably need to figure something out at third base with Mayo, Jordan Westburg, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all in the mix. One of them could be packaged up to solve a problem elsewhere.
Going into spring, which prospects, if any, look like they’ll have a real chance to start the year with the major league club?
Enrique Bradfield Jr. probably has the best chance. Outfielder, former first-round out of Vanderbilt. Super fast, great glove, no pop in the bat. He’s not a “Top 100” type, but it’s a skillset that could help this team, even if his playing time is sporadic. They need outfielders, and he is the next one up. Trey Gibson might break camp with the big league team too. He spent some time in Baltimore in 2026 as a spot starter. Could battle for the fifth spot in the rotation. And Luis De Léon is another pitcher to watch. They speed-ran him through Triple-A to help out of the big league bullpen near the end of ’26. They probably want him to spend more time in the minors as a starter for now.
What would team fans consider the elements of a successful 2027 season going forward, whether it is just positive steps forward all the way to winning the World Series?
This needs to be a winning baseball team in 2027, and in this version of the American League that should mean a playoff berth. How they get to that point is harder to say, but I think it starts with the offense. The rotation is serviceable, and the bullpen has some sneaky depth. It was the lineup that failed to live up to expectations last year. Outside of Alonso, and a late-season surge from Mayo, the group was disappointing. They need more out of guys like Henderson, Holliday, Cowser, Samuel Basallo, and the return fo Jordan Westburg. If that means a top five-ish lineup, they will be in a good spot.
And a fun little exercise; you’ve been named GM for the Orioles. Tell me the four biggest (and at least vaguely realistic) moves you make this offseason?
– Re-sign starter Trevor Rogers. There is a good relationship there. He flourished in Baltimore, and the Orioles need him (or someone similar) in the rotation. Plus, the projected contract is pretty palatable.
– Trade for outfielder Steven Kwan. The Orioles have no lead-off hitter, and they sorely need better outfield defense. Kwan solves both problems.
– Sign catcher Tyler Stephenson. It seems like they want Basallo to catch less often, and Carlos Narváez was an offensive disaster last year after coming over from Boston. They need a dependable option behind the plate.
– Sign starter Kevin Gausman. Elias loves signing veteran starter pitchers to one-year deals. He does it every winter. Gausman isn’t what he once was, but he stays healthy and gives his team a chance to win. That’s a perfect back-end arm for a team looking to survive a season. Baltimore being a return to where Gausman began his big league career is a nice added bonus from the fan perspective.
Thanks Tyler!
