Projecting how the 2025 Orioles will differ from 2024

It’s been a busy few weeks for Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, and he’s yet to start adding major league players to the 40-man roster.

Elias has made decisions about some members of the 2024 Orioles, and it’s obvious that while the majority of the key playe will return, others won’t.

No team has yet signed—or lost—a key free agent, so as that market will soon heat up, let’s look at how the 2025 Orioles might be different than the 2024 version.

Starting pitching: The Orioles haven’t lost free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes to another team, and it seems that Elias and team owner David Rubenstein will make an attempt to retain last season’s top starter.

Burnes finished fifth in the Cy Young voting, but he’s the top starter on the free-agent market. The Orioles face competition from the big-spending teams, and they’ll have to examine how much money and how many years they’ll commit to Burnes.

If they don’t sign Burnes, they can pivot to free-agent starters Max Fried and Blake Snell.

Grayson Rodriguez, whom Elias said has recovered from the right lat/teres strain that prevented him from pitching after July 30th, is the nominal No. 1 starter for the moment. Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer will be back, and for now, Albert Suárez and Cade Povich are in the rotation.

Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are making progress, Elias said, from their season-ending elbow surgeries in June, and he said they could return around midseason.

Chayce McDermott, Trevor Rogers and Brandon Young also could compete for rotation spots.

Relief pitching: The bullpen will be different. Félix Bautista should be fully recovered from his October 2024 Tommy John surgery, and the Orioles hope he’ll again be a dominant closer.

Two important relievers from the last two seasons — left-hander Danny Coulombe and right-hander Jacob Webb — won’t be back. Coulombe, who had surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow and missed more than three months, had his $4 million option declined. Webb, who missed six weeks with right elbow inflammation, was not offered a new contract on Friday.

Right-handers Yennier Cano and Seranthony Domínguez will be back. So will left-handers Keegan Akin, Cionel Pérez and Gregory Soto.

Colin Selby, who was promoted on the final day of the regular season and was included on the Wild Card Series roster, could be a factor. So could left-hander Luis González, who was close to being recalled during the season.

The 32-year-old González was added to the 40-man roster as minor league free agency was about to begin, Right-hander Kade Strowd, who was a surprise addition to the 40-man roster this week, will be involved.

Bryan Baker remains on the 40-man roster, and Thaddeus Ward, who was claimed off waivers from Washington, is also a possibility.

So are Suárez and Young, if they don’t stick as starters.

The Orioles need relievers with options, and the additions of González, Strowd and Young could help.

There are two openings on the 40-man roster, and the Orioles also could sign a veteran free agent.

Catching: James McCann, who was an outstanding backup to Adley Rutschman for the past two seasons, remains a free agent. Travis d’Arnaud signed a two-year contract for $12 million with the Los Angeles Angels.

It’s a thin catching market, and the 34-year-old McCann might be looking for a multi-year contract, which may make the Orioles uncomfortable. Twenty-year-old Samuel Basallo will start next season at Triple-A Norfolk and could be ready for the major leagues in the second half of the season.

The Orioles acquired René Pinto off waivers from Tampa Bay, and they have Blake Hunt, who caught for Norfolk last season on the 40-man roster. If they don’t sign McCann, the Orioles might add another experienced backup.

Infielders: The Orioles have 10 infielders on the 40-man roster: Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn for first base; Gunnar Henderson for shortstop; Jordan Westburg for second and third base; Jackson Holliday for second base; Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera for first and third; and Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías and Liván Soto as utility players.

Not all will be on the Opening Day roster, and Mateo could provide outfield depth, too if he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow by Opening Day.

The Orioles signed Vimael Machin to a minor league deal, and any infield additions probably also will be minor league signings.

Outfielders: Free agent Anthony Santander’s 44 home runs were the seventh most in team history, and his return is uncertain. Teams that lose out on Juan Soto might find Santander an attractive alternative.

Austin Slater, who played the last two months of the season with the Orioles, signed this week with the Chicago White Sox.

Besides Colton Cowser, who finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, the Orioles have two other left-handed hitters, Heston Kjerstad and Cedric Mullins.

The Orioles reacquired Daz Cameron off waivers from Oakland, and he’s the only right-handed hitter. Cameron spent the 2023 season with Norfolk.

The Orioles will pursue right-handed hitting outfielders to replace Santander, if he signs elsewhere. Kjerstad and O’Hearn could get lots of time at designated hitter. So could Mayo if he’s on the team, or other right-handed hitters they’ll likely add in the coming weeks.

Coaches and trainers

Bench coach Fredi González and major league coach José Hernández did not have their contracts renewed. Co-hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller moved on — to Minnesota for Borgschulte and Chicago for Fuller.

Cody Asche, who was the team’s offensive strategist the last two seasons, will be the team’s lead hitting coach. Tommy Joseph, who was Seattle’s assistant hitting coach, and Sherman Johnson, the Orioles’ upper-level minor league hitting coach, are set to join the major league staff.

Those moves will be announced when the rest of the coaching staff is set. Former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross has been mentioned as bench coach. Last year’s managers at Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, which is now Chesapeake, Buck Britton and Roberto Mercado, could be candidates to join the coaching staff, too.

Longtime head athletic trainer Brian Ebel left the organization last month and no replacement has been announced.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.