Orioles non-roster spring training invite list quietly exposes major depth concern

A tell-tale sign that the offseason is almost over is when teams announce their non-roster invites for spring training. Many times, this is just a compilation of the minor-league signings that were reported throughout the winter, and yes, the chance of recreating the "This guy here is dead" line from the movie Major League is quite high. Nonetheless, it's the procedural start to spring training, and the Baltimore Orioles have followed suit.

The Orioles have announced their non-roster invites, and honestly, it speaks to the lack of depth that surrounds the organization outside of the major league roster.

Non-roster invite list highlights Orioles' most glaring 2026 weakness

The Orioles certainly have been active this offseason, but the focus has almost exclusively been on the major league roster. It makes sense, considering Baltimore was one of the most disappointing teams in baseball last year and Mike Elias likely will be out of a job if they don't reach the playoffs in 2026. That pressure has led to the arrivals of Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley, Taylor Ward, and Shane Baz. There also remains the expectation that Elias has one more move up his sleeve before spring training.

But the announcement of the non-roster invites confirms that time is running out for the Orioles to make that final swing toward contention. It's a list that kind of reads like the Orioles giving a free Florida vacation to fringe baseball players.

The group of 15 pitchers could worth paying attention to. Baltimore could have a spot or two up for grabs in the bullpen, and it's not unheard of that a non-roster guy can pop in spring and become a dude during the regular season.

Enoli Paredes posted a 1.74 ERA in 17 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, and if healthy, he could be an under-the-radar candidate to sneak into the bullpen.

Elsewhere, the Orioles having five catchers as non-roster invites feels a tad excessive. Among the position players, top prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. is among the players getting a cup of coffee with the big league team in Florida. Bradfield still needs some seasoning at Triple-A before being ready for an appearance on the major league roster, but spending the spring with the likes of Alonso, Gunnar Henderson, and Adley Rutschman certainly isn't a bad thing.

Many of these guys will be forgotten once spring training is over, but hey, it likely isn't the first thing on Orioles fans' minds right now, considering Framber Valdez has signed with the Detroit Tigers.