It’s a new year, and spring training is just six weeks away. Let’s take a look at some questions facing the Orioles’ roster and lineup as the 2026 season nears.
If we assume the Orioles will add another starter, who are the team’s five starting pitchers when the season begins?
I think it’s a reasonable assumption that the Orioles will add another starter to the rotation to go along with Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer, Zach Eflin and Tyler Wells.
The guess here is that the Orioles don’t rush Eflin, who’s recovering from back surgery. If everyone’s healthy, the added starter will join Bradish, Rogers, Baz and Kremer. I think Wells will be given starter’s innings in spring training to allow him to be ready to start, if needed.
He also could pitch multiple innings in relief so that if a starter were hurt, he could hop back into the rotation.
Even though Elfin said on Monday he was planning to be ready on Opening Day, I think the Orioles will be conservative with him.
Besides a starting pitcher, what else could the Orioles add before spring training?
I think they’ll add more bullpen pieces. The only left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster are Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram. I wouldn’t be shocked if they considered Cade Povich as a bullpen arm, but I think they’ll sign some additional relievers.
I also think they’ll sign or claim a utility infielder on waivers. Last year, they claimed Luis Vázquez, who’ll be in camp on a minor league contract. They don’t currently have a utility player on the roster.
Is there any chance they’ll have a third catcher?
I don’t think so. Once they traded Alex Jackson, whom I think could have been a third catcher, that avenue seems closed. It wouldn’t shock me if they brought one up for a short time in case Samuel Basallo or Adley Rutschman had a short-term injury.
That could be Maverick Handley, but I also think they’ll try to sign another catcher or two to minor league contracts.
Is the Orioles’ starting outfield set?
For now, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser and Taylor Ward look like the starters. Assuming he’s healthy, Tyler O’Neill will get playing time, and so should Leody Taveras.
Taveras has primarily played center field, and if the Orioles don’t acquire another outfielder in the next six weeks, he’ll have an excellent chance to make the team since the team doesn’t have another centerfielder other than Cowser.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Orioles picked up another outfielder who can play center.
How about Jeremiah Jackson? Can he make the Opening Day roster?
If all the outfielders are healthy, Jackson might have a hard time making the roster. Taveras doesn’t have any options left, and Jackson has three.
While he hit well last season, he has an unusual mix of positions—right field and third base. It will be interesting to see whether the Orioles play him at other positions, both infield and outfield, in spring training.
What about Albert Suárez? Can he make the team?
Absolutely. Suárez can provide depth as a multiple-inning reliever and an emergency starter. With the addition of Eflin as well as Povich and Brandon Young around, the Orioles should have other arms to start, allowing Suárez to pitch in the bullpen.
How many bullpen spots are set?
Ryan Helsley will close. Andrew Kittredge will be one of the setup guys, and I don’t know about the rest. I think Suárez will get a spot, and if Wells is in the ‘pen, that could leave four spots.
For now, Akin and Enns, Yennier Cano and Kade Strowd look like good choices. Rico Garcia and Colin Selby also could get real opportunities.
Who will bat leadoff?
Manager Craig Albernaz has no ties or preconceptions about any of the players, and spring training batting orders are generally meaningless. He could keep Jackson Holliday as the primary leadoff batter, return Gunnar Henderson to the first spot or even bat Taylor Ward there.
Even though he wasn’t the manager of the Cleveland Guardians, he closely observed lineup construction. In 2025, the Guardians had a contact-hitting left-hander, Steven Kwan, batting leadoff most often and a future Hall of Famer, switch-hitting third baseman José Ramírez, batting third.
Perhaps we’ll get some clues to Albernaz’s thinking in the last week of spring training.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.