4 Orioles who've already proven they don't belong on the roster after May 1

RHP Charlie Morton

It might feel a bit premature to sound the alarm on Charlie Morton — but the numbers are hard to ignore. Now in his 18th big league season, the 41-year-old right-hander is clearly nearing the twilight of a long and respected career. But no matter how seasoned the veteran, Father Time remains undefeated.

Through three starts in 2025, Morton is 0-3 with a brutal 8.78 ERA, having allowed 13 earned runs and eight walks over just 13.1 innings. He’s been consistently squared up, surrendering at least four runs in each of his outings and failing to pitch beyond the fifth inning in any of them.

In his defense, Morton wasn’t signed to be a front-line starter — that was never the plan. But injuries to Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish still recovering from Tommy John, and now Zach Eflin have left the Orioles scrambling, and Morton has been thrust into an even larger role than expected. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to rise to the occasion.

At $15 million on a one-year deal, the Orioles were banking on a stabilizing veteran presence in the middle or back end of their rotation. Instead, they’re getting results that aren’t just disappointing — they’re straight up losing games due to his performance.

Totally aware of how unlikely it will be that Baltimore moves on from Morton before May 1, especially with so many rotation arms on the shelf. But as reinforcements return and younger options emerge, Morton’s leash will only get shorter. If the veteran can’t turn things around, the Orioles may be forced to reconsider whether he’s helping them win — or holding them back.

While it’s still early in the 2025 season, the Orioles can’t afford to let under-performance linger — not in this division. Whether it’s veterans failing to live up to their contracts, relievers losing command, or bench pieces offering little value beyond speed, every roster spot matters for a team with postseason ambitions. If Baltimore wants to compete, they are going to have to make some tough decisions.