Orioles made flashy moves this winter but the grade still doesn’t pass the test

The Baltimore Orioles certainly had a busy offseason, though the recent failure to sign Framber Valdez may have shifted the tone of the winter. The Athletic (subscription required) ran through their offseason grades, and it's clear that on the national scene, the Orioles' moves are loved. Jim Bowden graded Mike Elias and Co. with an A, but that feels generous, considering the questions that remain with the roster.

Pete Alonso's arrival was a great move, and Alonso does give a much-needed lift to Baltimore's culture. That being said, it also created an infield logjam with Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo. Both Mountcastle and Mayo remain on the 40-man roster, suggesting that Elias still has his faults when it comes to roster construction.

The trade for Taylor Ward falls into that same bucket. In a vacuum, it's a good move, but it only highlighted the expensive mistake of Tyler O'Neill. Even if O'Neill is a bounce-back candidate in 2026, their 26-man roster is littered with right-handed hitting outfielders.

Orioles' front office did plenty this offseason and still didn’t fix the biggest issue

As of this writing, the only moves the Orioles made to upgrade the starting rotation were trading for Shane Baz and bringing back Zach Eflin. Neither represents the frontline starting pitcher the Orioles need, and it remains to be seen if they will check that box before the start of spring training.

Adding Ryan Helsley at the backend of the bullpen was a smart move for the Orioles, but they lack a go-to left-handed relief pitcher. There will inevitably be one available at the trade deadline, but failing to shore up this need before the start of the season feels like a mistake.

The offseason is not over, so there is still an opportunity for the Orioles to change the narrative. Between now and opening day, if they are able turn Mayo, Mountcastle, and O'Neill into some pitching, the roster would make a lot more sense.

With Mayo, it seems likely that he will start the season in Triple-A. There likely isn't a trade for a cost-controlled ace available at the moment, but if Mayo builds his value back up, he could be an ideal piece to include in a trade package during the season.

If the Orioles can turn their redundant roster pieces into the solution to their remaining need, they would undoubtedly be deserving of an A. At this moment, however, there are still too many questions that need to be answered.