The Baltimore Orioles added a few new players to their 2025 projected 26-man roster over the off season:
- Tyler O’Neill, left field
- Gary Sanchez, catcher
- Ramon Laureano, outfielder
- Charlie Morton, starting pitcher
- Tomoyuki Sugano, starting pitcher
- Andrew Kittredge, relief pitcher
Sugano is the only person on the active roster without major league experience.
The starting pitching acquisitions will try to replace Corbin Burnes, lost to free agency. Both Morton and Sugano come with years of experience, well into the portion of their careers when they should be in decline. Sugano is a control artist, averaging 1.7 BB per nine during his twelve seasons in Japan. His strikeout rate has fallen off in recent seasons, and I suspect the Orioles defense will need to play well behind him. Morton plays 2021 as a 41-year-old, and his ability to limit walks deteriorated in the last few years. He still delivers Ks, however.
O’Neill slots into the cleanup slot in the Orioles batting order after a comeback season with the Red Sox. His two best season came in 2021 and 2024, and were marked by extremely high strikeout rates, with over 30% of his PAs resulting in K’s. His production comes from swinging hard, and hoping the bat meets the ball. A great example of the strikeout paradox, where the power generated can make up for the lost hits by swinging and missing.
Sanchez is a good power bat who can spell Adley Rutschman against left-handed starters. Laureano is another high K power bat. It seems the Orioles want a particular type of hitter in the lineup, as O’Neill, Sanchez, and Laureano all fit the power mode.
Kittredge is a close as one comes to a high-end reliever who pitches to contact. He averaged 8.6 K per 9 IP in his career with a low walk rate. He’s step into the setup role with the Orioles. He tends to produce ERAs lower than his FIPs throughout his career. I suspect part of that comes from Tampa Bay playing great defense behind him.
Baltimore went with no spectacular improvements. That may come from Jackson Holliday starting full time.