It was back to the post season for the Orioles in 2024. Back to back post season apperances for the first time since 1997 and only the second time in half a century. Out they went without a whimper. Five playoff games in two years and no wins.
Worse still, amid a season with a considerable amount of pitching injuries the Orioles lost their one year ace. Corbin Burnes took his ball and went home. He’s an Arizona Diamondback and he has not been replaced.
New in Birdland
The Orioles still have a trunk full of young hitting talent with not enough room to play them all. They need pitching and while owner David Rubenstein professed a willingness to spend this off season, for some reason his GM Mike Elias refused to do so.
SOURCE: Orioles GM Mike Elias refuses to spend money despite green light from owner David Rubenstein.
FULL STORY from @benjpalmer at Pitcher List.https://t.co/oAJ1Qz3rIe
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) December 12, 2024
Additions – Gary Sanchez, Tyler O’neill, Ramón Laureano, Dylan Carlson, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Andrew Kittredge.
Subtractions – Corbin Burnes, Anthony Santander, Craig Kimbrel, Cole Irvin
Orioles Pitching
Starters – With the loss of Burnes the rotation will need the three at the top to be better. Grayson Rodriguez, former 11th overall pick only managed twenty starts and despite a 13-4 record, more is expected than a 3.86 ERA.
Zach Eflin was excellent (2.60 ERA) in his nine O’s starts after the deadline trade. The rest does not look like a playoff rotation. Dean Kremer and a pair of aging righties. Charlie Morton (41) and new to MLB from Japan Tomo Sugano (35).
Bullpen – Big improvement here if Félix Bautista returns to form after a lost season. He was as good as anyone in 2023. Andrew Kittredge will also help, he was very good in St Louis last season.
A Bevy of young hitters
Not counting the pandemic season, the Orioles averaged 111 losses for three seasons. That sets you up in the draft. The O’s have done very well with that.
They’ve had two first overall picks, Adley Rutschman (2019) and Jackson Holliday (2022). Heston Kjerstad went 2nd (2020) and Colton Cowser fifth (2021). Jordan Westburg went 30th.
Somehow Gunner Henderson dropped to 42nd overall in 2019 and Coby Mayo looks like a gift in the fourth round of 2020.
While Kjerstad is till trying to find at bats in the outfield and Holliday struggled in his first go round in the bigs, they’re all talented and on the upswing and except for first base comprise the entire Orioles inner diamond D.
Adding O’neill’s power
The rest of the offense is in veterans hands especially with the addition of free agent Tyler O’neill who led the Red Sox with thirty-one homers last season. Add his bat to Ryan Mountcastle, Cedrick Mullins and Ryan O’hearn and you have more than enough hitting.
Certainly enough hitting to reach the post season, however, the big question for the 2025 Orioles is, is there enough in the rotation to make any noise once they get there?
