Orioles Offseason News, Rumors, 2023 Payroll, and More

Check back here for all Orioles offseason moves.

After five straight losing seasons, the Baltimore Orioles are set to compete for a playoff berth in 2023.  A pleasantly surprising winning record in 2022 positions the O’s to externally add to the Major League roster.  The arrivals of Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson were dramatic improvements over their stopgap predecessors, but the farm system can only go so far.  It is time for General Manager Mike Elias to acquire big leaguers via trade and sign free agents to multi-year deals.

Because front offices are so careful these days, there will be far more rumors than actual Orioles news for much of the offseason.  We will be keeping track of legitimate reports and official transactions, starting with the few small moves the front office has already made.  The Orioles have plenty of payroll space and a great farm system, which means the team could technically go after anyone.  But even though Elias has the greenlight to increase spending, it is unclear to fans what the payroll ceiling is.

Baltimore has decent pitching depth and a solid bullpen, but they could use a bona fide ace and a reliable mid-rotation starter.  The position players include a number of average hitters and some defensive stalwarts, but there is no veteran superstar.  Signing one of the star free agent shortstops is a lower priority, but someone like Carlos Correa would anchor the lineup and shore up the infield.  The key decision for Elias and company is which 2022 regulars will still be everyday players next season.  Do they stick with Austin Hays in the outfield?  What about Gold Glover Ramon Urias?  How long of a leash does Ryan Mountcastle have?  Answering these tough questions will not only shape the 2023 roster, but quite possibly the next three or four seasons.

Orioles 2023 Payroll

All figures in this section are according to Cot’s Contracts, unless otherwise noted.

Orioles projected payroll as of today: $44,681,667

Orioles CBT tax payroll: $65,085,834

Orioles 2023 projected payroll ceiling: No one outside of Camden Yards knows.  My guess would be $90-$100 million for next season.

Orioles Transactions

October 6: selected Anthony Bemboom and designated Anthony Castro

October 7: Richie Martin, Brett Phillips, Travis Lakins elected free agency

October 11: claimed Jake Cave from Twins and designated Jake Reed

October 13: Red Sox claimed Jake Reed

October 13: Anthony Castro elected free agency

October 14: claimed Aramis Garcia and Mark Kolozsvary from Reds, designated Louis Head and Beau Sulser

October 15: Denyi Reyes elected free agency

October 18: Pirates claimed Beau Sulser

October 19: outrighted Louis Head

October 30: outrighted Aramis Garcia and Chris Ellis

November 4: reached deal with Jake Cave.  Split contract avoids arbitration.

November 6: outrighted Anthony Bemboom

November 8: outrighted Cam Gallagher

November 9: declined $11M option on Jordan Lyles, making him a free agent.

November 9: claimed Daz Cameron from Tigers

November 15: added five to 40-man roster as Rule 5 protection

November 17: outrighted Mark Kolozsvary

November 18: tendered contracts to whole arbitration class

Orioles Rumors, Soundbites

FanSided’s Robert Murray: Orioles make sense for Carlos Correa

ESPN’s Jeff Passan: Astros nearly traded Jose Urquidy to Cubs for Willson Contreras at deadline

MLB Trade Rumors: some writers predict the Orioles to sign Jameson Taillon, Taijuan Walker, Sean Manaea, and/or JD Martinez

MASN’s Roch Kubatko: Elias talks offseason plans at GM Meetings

FanSided’s Robert Murray: Top 25 free agents (Correa to the Orioles?)

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden: Orioles pursuing high-end starting pitchers

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson: Marlins more willing to trade Trevor Rogers than Pablo Lopez

MASN’s Roch Kubatko: O’s will acquire “more than one” quality players

Orioles Arbitration Eligible Players

MLB Trade Rumors released their arbitration projections last month, which are the most accurate projections year after year.  Here are the figures for current Orioles

Anthony Santander: $7.5M

Cedric Mullins: $4.4M

Austin Hays: $3.1M

Austin Voth: $2M

Jorge Mateo: $1.8M

Dillon Tate: $1.5M

Orioles Top Prospects

These are the top ten prospects in the Baltimore farm system, according to FanGraphs.

1. Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B/2B, 65 FV
2. Grayson Rodriguez, SP 60 FV
3. Jackson Holliday, SS 55 FV
4. DL Hall, SP/RP, 55 FV
5. Colton Cowser, OF, 50 FV
6. Coby Mayo, 3B, 50 FV
7. Joey Ortiz, SS, 50 FV
8. Jordan Westburg, SS/3B/2B, 45 FV
9. Jud Fabian, OF, 45 FV
10. Heston Kjerstad, OF, 45 FV