The Orioles have 14 players eligible for arbitration, one of the largest classes in the major leagues. In 2023, the Orioles offered arbitration to each of the 17 players eligible. Last year, the Orioles had 15 players eligible.
Reliever Jacob Webb was not tendered a contract. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera signed a one-year, $1 million contract ahead of the deadline, and pitcher Matt Bowman elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk but later signed a minor league contract with the team. The Orioles picked up the 2025 option on left-hander Cionel Pérez.
MLBTradeRumors has published its list of arbitration-eligible players with their projected salaries. Let’s review them.
No-Brainers
Gunnar Henderson is eligible for arbitration for the first time. Even though Henderson didn’t have as strong a season in 2025 as he did in 2024, he played in a club-high 154 games, tied for the team lead with 17 home runs, hit .274 with a .787 OPS and drove in 68 runs.
He also played an excellent shortstop, committing only eight errors, with just one after June 8th. And he stole 30 bases.
His estimated salary of $6.6 million is a bargain.
Trevor Rogers had a breakout season and will get some down-ballot Cy Young Award votes. After a 9-3 record and a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts, the 27-year-old left-hander was voted the Most Valuable Oriole.
Rogers is in his third and final year of arbitration eligibility, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Orioles approached him about an extension.
His estimated salary is $6 million.
Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells
Both had successful returns from right elbow surgeries in June 2024. Bradish had a 2.53 ERA in six starts; Wells a 2.91 ERA in four starts.
Along with Rogers, they’ll be important parts of the rotation in 2026.
Bradish’s estimated salary is $2.8 million. Wells’ is $2.7 million.
Adley Rutschman
Yes, his last season-and-a-half have been disappointing and he played just 90 games in 2025, with two stints on the injured list for oblique strains, but the Orioles have a lot invested in the 27-year-old catcher.
The 2019 overall No. 1 draft pick won’t be traded. He’s still an effective defensive catcher, though his offensive numbers were poor in 2025 — .220 average, .673 OPS, nine homers, 29 RBIs.
His estimated salary is $6.8 million.
Dean Kremer
He projects as perhaps the No. 4 or 5 starter in 2025 and while his numbers weren’t spectacular — 11-10, 4.19 — this season, he made 29 starts, second most on the team and two relief appearances.
The 29-year-old right-hander’s estimated salary for 2026 of $5.1million is reasonable.
Should be signed
Keegan Akin
The 30-year-old left-hander is in his final season before free agency, and he’s not a closer, though he had eight saves. He’s a valuable and versatile part of the bullpen, and he’ll be more effective once the team gets stronger pieces around him.
His estimated salary is $3 million.
Félix Bautista
Bautista may not pitch at all in 2026 after rotator cuff and labrum surgery. He didn’t pitch in 2024 after Tommy John surgery but showed enough in 2025 — 2.60 ERA, 50 strikeouts and just three home runs in 34 2/3 innings — that he deserves to be signed.
His estimated salary for 2026 is $2.1 million.
Alex Jackson
When Orioles catchers kept falling, Jackson stepped in and was a huge help. His batting average wasn’t impressive — .220 in 36 games — but his .763 OPS was.
Thirteen of Jackson’s 20 hits went for extra bases — eight doubles, five home runs — and he threw out seven of 24 runners attempting to steal (29.2 percent).
The Orioles might decide not to keep three catchers (Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are the others) next season, and if they do, Jackson’s estimated salary of $1.8 million may be a bargain.
On the bubble:
Yennier Cano had a 2.11 ERA in 2023 and went to the All-Star Game. This year, 31-year-old relief pitcher’s ERA skyrocketed to 5.12 in a team-high 65 appearances.
The Orioles would have loved for Cano to be their closer once they traded four bullpen arms at the trade deadline and lost Bautista, but he couldn’t handle the job.
Cano had two saves and five blown saves. His seven losses led relievers.
The Orioles may think he’s fixable or may just move on from him. In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Cano’s estimated salary is $1.8 million.
Albert Suárez is scheduled to meet with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Tuesday for an examination of his right elbow. Suárez is a clubhouse favorite, and while his versatility helped save the 2024 season, he pitched in just five games in 2025.
Suárez will be 36 this week, and if he’s going to miss significant time next season, the Orioles probably won’t offer him a contract. His estimated salary next year is $900,000.
Dylan Carlson earned just $975,000 last season, and his estimated salary of $1.5 million for 2026 isn’t high for a fourth or fifth outfielder, but the team might aim higher for next year.
Carlson hit just .203 last year with a -.7 WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
It would be a surprise
Ryan Mountcastle played just 89 games in 2025 and missed more than two months with a hamstring injury. The Orioles have Coby Mayo and Basallo to play first base, and in his final season before free agency, Mountcastle’s estimated salary is $7.8 million.
The Orioles will probably try to find a taker for Mountcastle, but other teams might be scared off by that price tag.
José Castillo pitched in only five games and had a 2.45 ERA. The Orioles are looking for bullpen arms, but the player known as “Big Dude” probably won’t be getting an arbitration offer for the projected $1.7 million.
Note: The Orioles re-signed infielder José Barrero to a minor league contract. Barrero hit .190 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 53 games for Triple-A Norfolk. In 161 games with Cincinnati and St. Louis, Barrero has a .182 average.
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