When it comes to fandom, people always have their favorite players, but they also know they the opponents the never want to see. Sometimes it's an opposing star who always seems to come up clutch in the big moment, and other times it's the role player who just has a team's number. This is certainly the case with the Baltimore Orioles.
There were some players who performed well against the Orioles this season, including a few in-division foes. Luckily, some are free agents that Birdland is hoping to sign elsewhere. Here are a few AL East opponents that beat down the Orioles this season but are headed into free agency.
Orioles must be thrilled that these players are free agents this offseason
Trent Grisham
The centerfielder didn't have the best season for the Yankees, with his OPS dropping over 100 points, but that didn't matter when facing Baltimore. Grisham hit .286 with an OPS over 1.000 in 10 games against the O's. He had four doubles, three home runs, and 10 RBI, and his 193 WRC+ was the ninth best of any hitter with five or more plate appearances against the Orioles (there were 71 total hitters). Luckily for the Orioles, his struggles this season likely mean the Yankees won't re-sign him, and hopefully none of the other three teams in the AL East do either.
George Springer
The 13-year MLB vet couldn't replicate his resurgent 2025 season at age 36, but that didn't stop him against Baltimore. Springer's 50 plate appearances were the 8th most against the Orioles this season, and he hit .304 with a .782 OPS. With Springer's six-year deal finally done, the Orioles can hope that a player with an OPS over .800 against them in his time with the Blue Jays will find a home elsewhere.
David Bednar
The Yankees closer had an excellent season before heading into free agency, and that included shutting down the Orioles in matchups against them. Bednar pitched five times against the O's this season and didn't allow a run. He held Baltimore batters to a .188 batting average and .387 OPS. For the whole season, Bednar pitched almost 70 innings with a 2.47 ERA and 35 saves. He'll head into free agency as one of the best relievers, and hopefully lands not back in the AL East.
Ryan Yarbrough
The tall lefty has been around since 2018, with most of his career being in the AL East. The Orioles are one of two teams Yarbrough has over 100 innings against in his career, and while his 3.92 ERA against them isn't the best, he did well against them in 2026 for the Yankees. The 34-year-old pitched three times against the O's, going 8 1/3 innings, and allowed one earned run. Orioles batters were only able to hit .212 against him, with a .447 OPS. If Baltimore is lucky, he'll leave the AL East for the third season of his career.
