A preview of Orioles’ offseason
It’s been nearly four weeks since the Orioles’ season ended in the Wild Card Series, and their news has been restricted to a series of coaching and front office departures. November is approaching, and there will be plenty of Orioles news.
Roster movement season
The day after the World Series ends, free agency begins, and the Orioles will start making adjustments to their 40-man roster.
Their free agents — starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and John Means, catcher James McCann and outfielders Anthony Santander and Austin Slater — are vacated from the roster.
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The Orioles have a five-day window to sign their own free agents because players can’t sign with new teams during that time.
They’ll have to decide which players will receive a qualifying offer. It’s expected that Burnes and Santander will receive and reject the $21.05 million offer. The Orioles will receive compensatory draft picks from the teams that sign Burnes and Santander.
The players on the 60-day injured list return to the 40-man roster. Those are starting pitchers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, reliever Félix Bautista and infielder Jorge Mateo.
Even though Bradish and Wells won’t be ready for the start of next season, they still must be placed on the 40-man roster. They can return to the 60-day injured list during spring training when the Orioles need the roster space for another player who’s been signed or acquired.
The Orioles hold options on five players — relievers Danny Coulombe, Seranthony Domínguez and Cionel Pérez, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. It’s possible all but Jiménez, who they’d have to pay $16 million next season, will have their options picked up.
Domínguez’s option is $8 million, Pérez’s is for $2.2 million plus performance-based clauses, Coulombe’s is $4 million plus bonus clauses and O’Hearn’s is $7.5 million with a $500,000 bonus if he plays in 120 games and another $500,000 if he’s in 150 games.
The Orioles may outright some players who’ve passed through waivers. Some of those who didn’t finish the season on the active roster and are also on the 40-man roster are: right-handed reliever Burch Smith, who was on the 15-day injured list with a right adductor/groin strain; relievers Bryan Baker and Brooks Kriske; catcher Blake Hunt; infielder Liván Soto; and outfielder Daniel Johnson.
Later in November, the Orioles will face a deadline on adding minor league players to their 40-man roster ahead of the December 11th Rule 5 draft. They’ll also have to tender contracts to players eligible for arbitration by November 22nd.
Award season
Colton Cowser won the Players Choice Award for outstanding American League Rookie on Saturday. He’s a finalist for the Gold Glove Award as a leftfielder. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is also a finalist.
Those awards will be announced on November 3rd at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
James McCann is the Orioles’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. Each team has a nominee, and that award will be announced before Monday night’s Game 3 of the World Series.
The Sliver Slugger finalists will be announced on November 4th. Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman both won in 2023. The winners are announced on November 12th.
Henderson, Rutschman and Santander have been nominated for the All-MLB team, which will be announced on November 14th. Santander is also a nominee for the Hank Aaron Award for the best overall performer in each league.
The Reliever of the Year, Designated Hitter of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year will also be announced then.
Cowser has a chance to be the American League’s Rookie of the Year, which will be announced on November 18th. The Manager of the Year, Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player will be revealed from November 19th-21st. Finalists are revealed on November 11th.
If Cowser wins Rookie of the Year, the Orioles receive a draft pick.
Henderson is the Orioles’ nominee for the Heart and Hustle Award, which will be announced on November 22nd. That’s presented by the MLB Players Alumni Association.
What follows
The General Manager’s Meetings are held in San Antonio from November 4th-7th. That’s when trade talks heat up. The Winter Meetings are in Dallas from December 8th-11th.
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