Orioles Face Tight Offseason Schedule

The Baltimore Orioles front office faces a compressed timeline as it prepares for the 2027 season. The club must finalize key roster moves before a potential labor stoppage halts transactions. A new general manager, Jared Banner, is navigating these pressures under president of baseball operations Mike Elias.

The team made its first major decision this week. The Orioles declined the $25 million mutual option for right-hander Zach Eflin. They paid a $2 million buyout to release him. Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery in April after one start. He is expected to miss most of the next season. Meanwhile, reliever Ryan Helsley opted in to his $14 million player option. Helsley played only 17 games this year due to injuries.

The club also signed outfielder Rece Hinds to a guaranteed one-year major league deal. The salary is $4,700 above the league minimum. Hinds is out of minor league options. He hit .171 in parts of three big league seasons. However, he posted 53 home runs in 1,183 Triple-A plate appearances.

Teams have until Monday, Nov. 2, to rule on remaining contract options and qualifying offers. Players on the 60-day injured list must be reinstated by this date. The Orioles have open questions regarding first baseman Adley Rutschman and outfielder Chris Colabello. Rutschman missed nearly all of 2026 with a fractured left foot and a strained oblique. Colabello was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets and hurt his left hamstring after three games with Baltimore.

The biggest name among the free agents is Trevor Rogers. He is one of four free agents, alongside Chris Bassitt, Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin. Reporters from BaltimoreBaseball.com and MASN describe a qualifying offer as likely. If the Orioles extend the one-year, $23.15 million offer, Rogers has until 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 to accept or decline. If he declines and signs elsewhere, Baltimore would receive a compensatory draft pick. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Rogers 15th among his top 40 free agents. He projected a three-year, $64 million contract.

Seven Orioles are eligible for salary arbitration. They are Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Félix Bautista, Codi Heuer, Albert Suárez and Leody Taveras. Henderson, Westburg, Cowser and Bautista are certain to be tendered contracts. Heuer, Suárez and Taveras could be let go. The tender deadline is 8 p.m. on Nov. 20.

The collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. A lockout is widely expected. Once the agreement lapses, teams cannot sign or trade players on the 40-man roster. Orioles beat writers expect a burst of free-agent signings in November. The last lockout in 2021-22 froze the market until March. The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for Dec. 9 but may not happen if there is a lockout.

Before that, the Orioles must decide by Nov. 17 which minor leaguers to add to the 40-man roster. MASN listed outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. and pitchers including Michael Forret and Juaron Watts-Brown among the prospects who would be exposed if left off. The rotation is losing Eflin, Bassitt and possibly Rogers. Kyle Bradish is among the pitchers being reinstated from the injured list.

Pete Alonso leads the American League with 43 home runs and 113 RBIs. He gives the lineup a power anchor. The outcomes for Mountcastle and Robert will decide how crowded first base and the outfield look by spring. The scheduled Opening Day is March 25, 2027, at Tampa Bay. The home opener against Toronto is set for March 29. A lockout could push both dates back.