Dream Orioles roster for 2026 if Mike Elias wasn't a burden at the Winter Meetings

It's already been a busy offseason for the Baltimore Orioles. They have a new manager in Craig Albernaz, finally put an end to the Grayson Rodriguez experiment — shipping him to the Los Angeles Angels for slugging outfielder Taylor Ward — and added to the bullpen with their addition of Ryan Helsley. Of course, the Orioles' top priority, addressing their starting rotation, has yet to be checked off, but that could change at the Winter Meetings.

Mike Elias has talked a big game this winter, and to give him some ounce of credit, he has backed up what he's been saying. Elias wanted an impact bat in the outfield and added Ward. He also knew that the Orioles needed to address the backend of their bullpen and acted quickly to take Helsley off the market.

Dream Orioles roster for 2026 if Mike Elias wasn't a burden at the Winter Meetings

Elias is almost there, in terms of having a successful offseason, but he must check the box of adding a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and needs to do so at the Winter Meetings.

Orioles Starting Rotation (5)

• Keeping: Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish
• Adding: Freddy Peralta, Michael King, Zac Gallen
• Cutting: Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich

Dreams shouldn't waste time. The Orioles have a pair of high-ceiling starting pitchers in place with Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish, but after that, their rotation is littered with question marks.

There is a method to the madness. The Orioles have the prospect capital to trade for any cost-controlled starting pitcher they desire, and Freddy Peralta would be a clear choice. Peralta is only making $8 million in 2026, so the Orioles would have more than enough room to double dip. Enter Michael King, who should be priced under Framber Valdez, but may just have a higher ceiling.

We're not stopping there. Round out the rotation with a change-of-scenery candidate in Zac Gallen. He may need some fixing, but Gallen is a three-time Cy Young candidate and would put a nice bow for Elias and his quest to close the loop on the endless need for starting pitching.

Orioles Bullpen (8)

• Keeping: Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, Kade Stroud, Rico Garcia
• Adding: Pete Fairbanks, Brad Keller, Eli Morgan
• Cutting: Colin Selby Dietrich Enns, Yennier Cano

Again, in the slightest form, Elias does deserve some credit. After tearing down the bullpen at the MLB trade deadline, the bullpen needed to be reconstructed this offseason. Bringing back Kittredge and signing Helsley was an encouraging start, but he shouldn't stop there.

With Felix Bautista missing most of 2026, and Helsly needing his fastball to be reworked, the Orioles could still stand to add a closer, just to remove any doubt. Pete Fairbanks would be a decent option without the team having to break the bank for Edwin Diaz.

Brad Keller was a bullpen ace for the Chicago Cubs last season, and he would do wonders for the middle innings of games. Eli Morgan broke during his time in Chicago, but given the connection to Cleveland, he could be an easy arm for Albernaz's staff to fix.

Orioles Infield (5)

• Keeping: Adlley Rutschman (C), Jackson Holliday (2B), Gunnar Henderson (SS)
• Adding: Pete Alonso (1B), Alex Bregman (3B)
• Cutting: Jordan Westburg

The Orioles could still stand to use some offensive improvement across their infield. Along those lines, when healthy, Jordan Westburg is a fine option at third baseman but availability has been his biggest liability.

As it stands, first base and third base would be the clear areas where Baltimore can improve their starting lineup. Hitting home runs never goes out of style, and Pete Alonso would be a nice boost for the middle of the order.

There's a level of hypocrisy in pointing out Westburg's lack of availability and then pointing to Alex Bregman as a dream move at the Winter Meetings. Bregman has had a recent history of injury concerns but he would be the leader in the clubhouse that the Orioles lacked last season. Not to mention, his defense would be a welcomed sight for the team's pitching staff.

Orioles Outfield/DH (4)

• Keeping: Taylor Ward (LF), Dylan Beavers (RF), Samuel Basallo (DH)
• Adding: Byron Buxton (CF)
• Cutting: Colton Cowser, Tyler O'Neill

If you squint, you can actually see the concepts of a strong outfield for the Orioles. They can do far worse than Taylor Ward in left field, and with an extended run, Dylan Beavers could be very good. But there shouldn't be any scenario where Colton Cowser or Tyler O'Neill are in the starting group in 2026.

Buxton would be the dreamiest of dream additions at the Winter Meeting. When healthy, he is a true five-tool superstar and would give the Orioles another veteran leader in the clubhouse. He may not want to leave the Minnesota Twins, but dreams don't take no-trade clauses into account.

Orioles Bench (4)

• Keeping: Coby Mayo (1B), Jeremiah Jackson (UTL)
• Adding: Mike Tauchman (OF), Willi Castro (UTL)
• Cutting: Ryan Mountcastle

When Coby Mayo wasn't included in the starting infield, you may have thought we were giving up on him — wrong. With Alonso in the fold, Mayo becomes a nice bat to have on the bench. Ryan Mountcastle, on the other hand, get out. We are done with you.

Mike Tauchman gives the Orioles another outfield option and a left-handed bat that could be helpful for late-game matchups. Willi Castro closed out the 2025 season on a down note, struggling after his trade from the Twins, but his versatility would be ideal for this roster.