Orioles still can’t figure out roster puzzle as 2026 spring training begins

There was no shortage of moves made by the Baltimore Orioles this offseason. Whether by free agency or trade, Mike Elias was busy working deals to improve the ballclub after the disaster that was the 2025 season.

Some, like Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), believe the collective work that Elias and company put in deserves an "A." While there are certainly moves to like, was this really a phenomenal offseason, as the grade would indicate? A close look at the roster, as well as some of the past statements from Elias, would beg to differ.

As spring training begins, the Orioles still have holes that have been left unaddressed

Shortly after the regular season came to a close, Elias promised that the team was willing to go the lengths needed to land a high-end starter. The executive acknowledged the lengthy deals required to land ace-caliber arms, and was willing to pay "the price of poker."

Throughout the offseason, it seemed that was true. The club was linked to the likes of Ranger Suarez and Framber Valdez in free agency. They were rumored to be in the mix for a Freddy Peralta trade, too. However, as the winter unfolded, one by one, those options fell off the board.

That isn't to say that Elias hasn't added to a rotation that was in desperate need of reinforcements. He pulled off the costly trade for Shane Baz. He reunited with Zach Eflin. Now, he's brought in veteran righty Chris Bassitt. A true rotation leader is still nowhere to be found.

The rotation wasn't the only pressing need, however. The bullpen was in desperate need of a revamp after finishing 25th in the majors with a 4.57 ERA, and without the hope that All-Star closer Felix Bautista can return this year after his devastating injury.

Elias quickly re-acquired Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs, which was a solid move. Then he bet big on Ryan Helsley to serve as the team's closer. The former Hoffman Award winner will blame pitch tipping for his 7.20 ERA with the Mets, following the deadline deal that sent him to New York, but his ERA with the Cardinals prior to the trade was nearly a full run higher than the stellar 2.04 mark he put up in 2024.

Meanwhile, one of the only two lefties in the bullpen is Keegan Akin, who put up a 3.41 ERA, but saw his walk rate double from what he posted in 2024 and became very homer-prone, leading to a 4.94 FIP that suggests he was more lucky than good last season. The other is journeyman Dietrich Enns. That's simply not good enough.

At the end of the day, this is putting a lot of pressure on young pieces to step up, while also banking on bounce-back candidates. Could Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, or Kyle Bradish emerge as a true ace? Certainly, all three have the talent. All three have also struggled with injuries and consistency. Could Ryan Helsley get back to his dominant ways? Absolutely. Is it likely? Reply hazy, try again later.

This gambit might work in a different division, but not the AL East. This is baseball's most competitive division, and the three teams ahead of Baltimore have more or less kept pace. Now, as we begin the warm-ups and await the imminent return of real baseball, the options to find something better are nearly nonexistent. For better or worse, this is it. There are things to like, but going head over heels for the job Elias has done is simply mistaking activity for achievement. Key flaws went unaddressed, and it could derail Baltimore once the games start counting in the standings.