5 pending free agents that the Orioles need to let walk after the 2023 season

At this point, pointing out any flaws with the Baltimore Orioles feels awfully greedy given how much has gone right for them in 2023. Thanks to one of the best young cores in all of baseball led by Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the Orioles have the best record in the American League and the second best record in all of baseball. The AL East race is far from over as the Rays are playing some quality baseball, but things are definitely looking good in Birdland.

However, Baltimore has some important choices to make when we look ahead a bit to this coming offseason. As Baltimore fans are well aware, owner John Angelos has a firm grip on his wallet and isn't going to allow Baltimore to be a big spender no matter how good the team is, so resource allocation and prioritization is going to be important. In short: the Orioles are going to have to be very careful with who they keep and who they let go.

Here are 5 pending free agents that the Orioles need to let walk after the 2023 season

As tempting as it might be, one shouldn't speak in absolutes with these sorts of evaluations. Cost, underlying data, and unexpected roster needs can change the decision calculus very quickly. However, educated guesses can be made on whether Player X will probably be worth keeping around on a team that appears to be contending for the foreseeable future.

Given the overall strength of Baltimore's roster, it certainly won't be the end of the world if the Orioles end up taking another flyer on a couple of these guys. However, it does seem likely that all of these players' roster spots could be easily upgraded even with the likely payroll constraints the front office will be operating under.

Here are 5 pending free agents that the Orioles should probably not bother bringing back next season.

Baltimore needs to move on from Adam Frazier

While the pitching side of things seemingly has several candidates to be culled going into 2024, the offense is pretty loaded. However, one name that sticks out as a guy who has gotten considerable playing time in 2023 who probably shouldn't come back is veteran Adam Frazier.

In three of his last four seasons including this season, Frazier has posted a wRC+ of 91 or less which is not good (100 is average). Frazier is currently slashing .239/.296/.403 in almost 400 plate appearances and the one thing had going for him previously, his defense, has fallen off a cliff in 2023. For a rebuilding team, Frazier makes sense as a stopgap solution. However, for a contending team like Baltimore who is loaded with young infielders and who have Jackson Holliday and Connor Norby lurking, they will likely be able to do much better.

It should be one and done for Jack Flaherty with the Orioles

One of the few fair criticisms that can be leveled at the Orioles' front office in 2023 is that they failed to address their need for a quality starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Costs were high and there was certainly a lack of quality options, but it sure would have been nice if Baltimore would have been able to walk away from the deadline with a reliable starter. Instead, they acquired Jack Flaherty.

At the height of his powers a few years ago, Flaherty was one of the league's best young pitchers. However, he hasn't been the same pitcher over the last few seasons as he has dealt with injuries. Flaherty wasn't TERRIBLE with the Cardinals this season, but he also wasn't particularly good and his 6.41 ERA in four starts for Baltimore hasn't inspired much confidence. If he wants to sign a cheap short-term deal with the Orioles, then maybe he sticks around. However, that seems incredibly unlikely and the Orioles shouldn't push hard to keep him around.

The Orioles need to let Kyle Gibson walk

Sticking with the pitching staff the rest of the way here, Baltimore's second highest paid player in 2023 is Kyle Gibson who is making $10 million this season. When the Orioles signed him to that one year deal, the hope was that he could be closer to the decent pitcher he was in 2021 than who he had been for, well, most of the rest of his career.

Unfortunately, that isn't how things have shaken out. Gibson has at least stayed on the field which is not nothing as being healthy isn't always an easy ask of a pitcher, but he has also posted a 5.15 ERA in 28 starts for the Orioles this season. Availability is a quality worth considering but if Kyle wants anywhere near what he is making this season, Baltimore should just let him try to get that money elsewhere.