Bleacher Report’s offseason grades show Orioles have finally turned a corner

Even before Friday's trade for Shane Baz, there was plenty to like about the Baltimore Orioles' offseason. Their early moves addressed the need for a different look in the outfield, acquiring Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels, and they also stabilized the backend of their bullpen by signing Ryan Helsley. Then, at the Winter Meetings, they stole the show by signing Pete Alonso to the long-term deal the Mets were so afraid of.

For those reasons alone, it's why Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller dubbed the Orioles the biggest winners of the offseason. David Rubenstein and Mike Elias talked a big game to start the offseason, suggesting they were ready to be players in the winter's biggest move, and they backed it up.

Shane Baz trade further proves the Baltimore Orioles have won the offseason.

Miller's assessment of the Orioles' offseason arrived before Friday's move for Baz. If we reached Opening Day and the Orioles stopped with their signing of Alonso, there would have been a problem. For as great as those moves were, they didn't address the team's need for starting pitching. It would have been a repeat of last offseason's mistake, and one that could have set the stage for further disappointment.

Instead, the Orioles used their talented and deep farm system to pull off a trade for Baz. Baz isn't a finished product at the major league level, but there is reason to believe in his ceiling. He struck out over 24% of the hitters he faced last season, and although his ERA was 4.87, his xERA was 3.85. Factor in that Baz is just now entering the arbitration process and is under control through the 2028 season, and it makes sense why Baltimore pushed to complete the trade with their division rival.

Along those lines, Baz being cost-controlled shouldn't rule the Orioles out from making another addition to their rotation. If by the middle of January, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are still on the market, perhaps Baltimore gets motivated to ensure stability for their rotation. Not to mention, it would also take some pressure off Baz.

Regardless, excitement has returned when thinking about the potential of the Orioles' 2026 season. With their successful offseason, they are in a spot where they can expect to return to contention and put last year's misery behind them.