The Baltimore Orioles’ offseason agenda appears to be quite straightforward: pick a manager, a general manager to serve under Mike Elias, and pursue significant upgrades to their starting rotation and bullpen. Anything else outside those things would be good, but the reality is that the Orioles have avoided doing the obvious for several years, which is why 2025 was such a disappointment.
That is also why any speculation that the Orioles will do anything other than address their rotation this offseason should be questioned. In this example, MASN’s Roch Kubatko suggests that the Orioles prioritize upcoming New York Yankees free agency Cody Bellinger this winter.
In a reality where it is always easier said than done for the Orioles, Kubatko believes Bellinger would be an excellent match to improve the Orioles’ starting lineup while also filling a leadership need in the clubhouse.
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We’ll discuss the offensive boost in a moment, but it feels overly simplistic to assume Cody Bellinger could fill the leadership void in the Orioles’ clubhouse. Nothing personal against the former NL MVP, but his personality fits more the “Shaggy from Scooby-Doo” type than that of a commanding clubhouse leader. Playing for high-profile teams like the Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees doesn’t automatically make him the kind of leader a fractured Orioles team needs after last season’s struggles.
As for his offensive value, Bellinger did enjoy a strong 2025 campaign with the Yankees, posting 29 home runs and a 125 wRC+. He’s an interesting case, though, since a good portion of his success comes from taking advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. While that factor might make some teams hesitant, it shouldn’t scare off the Orioles. Statcast data suggests that even if Bellinger had played all his games in Baltimore last year, he still would have hit 29 home runs. So credit to Kubatko for noting that Bellinger could indeed provide a solid offensive boost.
However, the Orioles already have Tyler O’Neill, Colten Cowser, and Dylan Beavers patrolling the outfield. O’Neill’s 2025 was marred by injuries and Cowser took a step back, but replacing either would reflect a sense of urgency that Mike Elias’ front office hasn’t typically shown.
Finally, if Bellinger does decline his $25 million player option for next season, he’ll be chasing a big payday in free agency. The Yankees will almost certainly push hard to retain him, and given Baltimore’s history, it’s hard to see the Orioles engaging in a bidding war—especially with owner David Rubenstein already having second thoughts about the Samuel Basallo team-friendly extension.