2 Orioles decisions this offseason that look genius so far, 2 that look terrible

The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the most active teams this winter. While you can certainly say that they have improved, it's still an open question as to whether or not it will be enough. The American League East is unquestionably the most competitive division in baseball, and the Orioles entered the offseason needing more help than any of their rivals.

There's still work to be done, and if Mike Elias surprisingly stopped now, there would be a ton of disappointment. He surely has a surprise or two left up his sleeve, but as things stand now some of his moves stand out as strokes of genius while others leave a lot to be desired.

Two offseason moves the Orioles have made this offseason that look brilliant

Signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract

Pete Alonso's five-year, $155 million contract might not be the largest in franchise history, but it is the most significant. Alonso was said to be seeking a deal of "at least seven years" when the offseason began, so to get him for five at the Winter Meetings is something of a steal.

The 31-year-old is one of the most durable players in the game, one of the best power bats in the entire league, and owns a career strikeout rate of 22.8% (league average is 22%), making him remarkably efficient relative to the power he provides. He gives Baltimore a new dimension in the lineup. As an added plus, the Red Sox were thought to be a top suitor, so stealing him away from a division rival adds extra brownie points to the equation.

The Andrew Kittredge trade gambit

At the trade deadline, the Orioles sent Andrew Kittredge to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for talented teenager and 2025 international amateur free agent signee Wilfri De La Cruz. At the time, fans were unhappy that the return was a prospect who was so far away from the major leagues.

However, in re-acquiring Kittredge from the Cubs for nothing more than cash, the Orioles took a big step in solidifying their setup staff, but also acquired De La Cruz, the No. 13 prospect in the 2025 international class, for nothing more than a little cash and letting the Cubs rent Kittredge for a few months. With the loop being closed, the two moves combined to make Elias look like a savant.

These two Orioles moves leave something to be desired

Trading Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward

This is a move that's tough to evaluate without seeing where all the chips will fall. On the one hand, subtracting a top-of-the rotation talent, regardless of his injury concerns, from a rotation that needs front-line starters doesn't seem smart. On the other, the outfield wasn't the greatest need and if Ward, who is his final year of team control, takes playing time from promising youngsters like Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser it won't be a good look.

But what if the Orioles are able to package one of Beavers or Cowser along with other pieces for Freddy Peralta or a similar starter on the trade market? What if, after pulling off such a trade, the Orioles extend Ward? If all or some of that were to happen, you'd have to do a complete reappraisal of this move.

Ward is a quality player and one of the most underrated hitters in the league. He's a good player to have, and there are certainly red flags with Rodriguez. This just feels like a move to set up another move, and if the Orioles fumble the second leg this will turn sour real quick.

Signing Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal

Baltimore desperately needed a ninth-inning option to replace Felix Bautista. The likelihood of the Orioles pursuing one of the top-tier options was slim, but in going with a reclamation project in Ryan Helsley, they didn't get much of a discount.

When you consider that the Orioles will be paying Helsley $14 million per season while the Atlanta Braves are paying Robert Suarez $15 million per season with just one additional year on his contract, it doesn't look like they got much of a discount. If anything, they overpaid.

Helsley can redeem this deal by returning to his All-Star form, but as a value proposition, this was not a good signing.