MLB insider pinpoints exactly what 2025 Orioles are lacking

The Baltimore Orioles have found themselves back in the headlines early in the 2025 season — and not for reasons they'd prefer. After entering the year with deep postseason aspirations, the Orioles are facing critical early-season crossroads. Just weeks into the campaign, concerns are mounting about whether this team has the leadership, depth, and pitching necessary to sustain a postseason push. And it’s not just about what’s happening on the field — it’s about what’s missing in the clubhouse.

During a recent segment on Foul Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal peeled back the curtain on what he believes is a deeper issue brewing in Baltimore. While much of the discourse around the Orioles’ struggles has been focused on their lackluster pitching — a staff ranked near the bottom in many statistical categories — Rosenthal pointed to something more intangible, yet just as important. The absence of a long-term veteran presence to anchor the team’s culture.

Baltimore is missing a long-term plan and a clubhouse leader

Rosenthal may be on to something. The Orioles are rich in talent — there’s no denying that. Their roster is flush with promising young stars like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, and the pipeline continues to flow with top-tier prospects. But as Rosenthal noted, the lineup is primarily built around players with limited MLB service time. These are exciting names — but few have had the chance, or the tenure, to emerge as true clubhouse leaders.

Complicating this further is the Orioles’ hesitancy to commit long-term to any of their core players. Gunnar Henderson, who looks every bit the future face of the franchise, is a Scott Boras client — making a pre-free agency extension highly unlikely. Rosenthal suggested that locking up a player like Henderson could help solidify a cultural foundation in Baltimore, a window that may already be closing.

Veteran center fielder Cedric Mullins is another name Rosenthal hinted to as a potential leader. With years of service and on-field consistency, Mullins seems like a logical choice to take the reins. But again, Baltimore has yet to commit to him long-term, and with Mullins now crossing into his 30s, the front office is more than likely reluctant to make that kind of investment — even if it could provide much-needed stability.

Perhaps the best candidate to emerge as the steadying force Baltimore needs is Adley Rutschman. The 27-year-old backstop is already one of the premier catchers in baseball, he’s not a Boras client, and he’s still within his prime. A long-term deal for Rutschman could secure a cornerstone player and establish a vocal, everyday presence to lead both on and off the field.

But so far, that hasn’t happened. The Orioles' reluctance to invest long-term in their core players raises an uncomfortable question. What exactly is the plan? With no clear direction from the front office, no established locker room leader, and a pitching staff struggling to keep its head above water, this team — as talented as it is — risks falling short of the potential dynasty many envisioned.

A team this rich in talent is faced with an identity crisis. But without clarity, commitment, and leadership, Baltimore’s championship window could slip away before it ever fully opens.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow