It’s still two months until spring training and more than three months until Opening Day. But with the welcome addition of Pete Alonso and his 264 home runs since 2019, it’s never too early to speculate on the Orioles’ roster and batting order.
Now that Alonso’s here, the Orioles will try to clarify the situations of Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle. There’s no room for one of them, and perhaps both.
Mayo would be the easiest to trade since he’s just 24 and has six years of club control.
Mountcastle would be more difficult to move because he has one year before free agency and a projected salary of $7.8 million.
Neither seems as if they’re suited for part-time play, and it seems likely that it would require the Orioles to make separate deals for them since they’re both right-handed hitting first basemen.
Before the 2025 season, Mayo was the second-ranked Orioles prospect and the No. 14 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
While he had a strong September (.301 batting average with a .941 OPS, five home runs, eight RBIs), Mayo is far from a finished project at the plate and in the field. He struck out 84 times in 263 at-bats and is still mastering first base, but he could help the Orioles fetch a quality starter.
Let’s say that neither Mayo nor Mountcastle is with the Orioles to begin the 2026 season. With Alonso at first, Jackson Holliday at second, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop and Jordan Westburg at third, that’s a potentially dynamic infield.
In the outfield, there’s another new acquisition, Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Tyler O’Neill. Another free agent, Leody Taveras, figures to get a serious look.
Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are the catchers, and since Alonso plays every day at first, Basallo might not get much time there.
If all 11 players are healthy, that leaves two openings. Maybe one of the position player spots goes to Jeremiah Jackson, who plays third base and right field.
The Orioles need a utility infielder even if Henderson, Holliday and Westburg play each day. Luis Vázquez, who was taken off the major league roster, could be that player or the Orioles might sign a player adept at the three infield positions.
Ramón Urías, who’s a free agent, can play each of the four positions, including first base, but he probably wants more playing time than the Orioles can give him.
Outfielders Heston Kjerstad, Will Robertson and Reed Trimble will also be in camp. Little has been said about Kjerstad other than the Orioles believe his health won’t be an issue in spring training.
Now, where to bat this potent lineup?
Most of Alonso’s starts have come in the fourth spot. Ward has batted fourth more than third but also has started nearly as many games in the leadoff spot (169) than at fourth (179).
Alonso and Ward are right-handed hitters. Henderson and Holliday are left-handed hitters who have experience leading off.
New manager Craig Albernaz will be looking at these players with no preconceptions.
With Henderson and Holliday batting left and Alonso and Ward batting right, does it make sense to alternate them in the batting order to make sure there’s diversity in the order?
Rutschman is a switch-batter. Basallo, Beavers and Cowser hit left-handed.
The Orioles’ batting order looks more balanced with the two right-handed hitters and should be far less vulnerable to left-handed starters than it was a year ago.
Remembering Robert Popik
Back when Mike Hargrove was the Orioles’ manager and walkup music was in its infancy, Hargrove mentioned to Orioles disc jockey Robert Popik, who was known to most as Woody, that he loved Billy Joel’s “River of Dreams.”
When Hargrove would remove a starting pitcher with a lead, which was nightly occurrence, he would happily tap his cap toward the production booth when “River of Dreams” blared as he walked off the mound after a pitching change.
Popik died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at 58, and as the longtime DJ at Orioles, Ravens and Navy games, he’d entertain fans with his artistry. He was also a popular disc jockey for weddings.
An upbeat man, Popik remained positive about his condition, even in his final weeks, and he leaves behind countless friends and admirers.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.