After a feverish two months, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias hopes that the 87-loss team of 2025 is quickly forgotten once the 2026 season gets underway.
As the old year ends, we’re roughly at the halfway point between the end of the 2025 season, which concluded on September 28th, and the beginning of next season, scheduled to begin March 26th.
Elias surely has plans for making more moves, but the ones he’s made should improve the club on the field and its off-the-field chemistry.
The welcome second acts for starter Zach Eflin and relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge are positive moves. Both are mature and approachable, eager to help their teammates.
Outfielder Taylor Ward was voted “Good Guy” award winner by the Los Angeles Angels media. Hopefully, his bat will be as warm as his disposition.
Ryan Helsley, who’s slated to close games, comes with rave reviews from media in St. Louis. They say when things go badly, he’ll willingly sit in front of his locker and take responsibility. The Orioles are banking that there won’t be many of those sessions.
Starting pitcher Shane Baz, whom the Orioles acquired in a trade earlier this month from Tampa Bay, received a warm endorsement from Eflin, who was with him while he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery.
“He’s one of my favorite people in the game of baseball,” Eflin said. “He has such a good personality and he’s such a competitor, he’s a workhorse.
“The entire time he was rehabbing, he wanted to get back as soon as possible, and he wanted to throw the ball pretty much right after surgery. He’s just one of those guys who wants to pitch every fifth day, go as deep in the game and really just be that competitive leader that he is. So I’m extremely excited to actually be able to compete with him, so we can push each other.
“You guys are going to get to know him. He’s fantastic. He’s such a great addition to a really deep team already. And I’m really looking forward to putting on the same jersey as him again.”
The biggest addition of all, slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, had a well-received press conference at Oriole Park on December 12th. Alonso introduced himself to each member of the press corps and brings with him a great reputation in New York.
For Eflin, comfort is a huge factor, and it influenced his decision to re-sign with the Orioles
“I think I’ve been around the game long enough to understand most clubhouses,” Eflin said. “I know a guy or two on each team or somebody that’s played for them before or something. But that’s a huge kicker for me. I’m a huge quality of life guy, and I want to better the lives around me just as much as I want them to better my life. So, kind of going back to me wanting to come back, you want to surround yourself with good people, and there are good people all over this organization.
“Just back to the quality of life and the culture aspect, that’s the No. 1 thing for me. And if we can’t all get along, all be on the same page, better ourselves each and every day, what are we really doing? And to have that familiarity with a team I’ve been with before and I truly love to show up every single day, it’s really all you can ask for, and I’m grateful for the front office to give me another opportunity to be around those guys.”
After the 2024 season, the Orioles decided not to offer a contract to catcher James McCann and didn’t pick up a $4 million option on left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe. Both were mistakes, though first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn was still with the club until the trade deadline.
The horrible 2025 season apparently convinced Elias that the team needed some quality veterans. The team Eflin last pitched for on July 28th is much different. The Orioles were in the midst of sending away eight veterans, including O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías, who’d played a combined 17 seasons with the team.
Eflin played for two managers in 2025, Brandon Hyde, and Tony Mansolino. Both are gone, and he’ll get to play under a third, Craig Albernaz, who’s made a positive impression, too.
Eflin said he’s recovery from August back surgery is going well, and he’s planning to throw a bullpen on Tuesday. He’s also planning to be ready for Opening Day.
“I think everybody’s pumped for the season,” he said. “I think the moves have been great. I mean, you’re adding to a team that’s already so talented, and some of those guys are some of my closest friends in the game.”
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.