Vanessa: Pete Alonso just blasted two homers to take over the AL lead with forty-three, routing the Yankees in a doubleheader opener before rain washed out the finale. But here’s the real question: now that the season is done, who actually stays on this roster for 2027?
Nick: That’s the million-dollar question. We’ve talked about this all week—the rotation needs help, but the position groups are logjammed. You look at third base, you look at center field, and suddenly you realize this isn't just about adding arms; it's about subtracting bodies.
Vanessa: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Vanessa, and I’m joined by Nick. Today we are diving into the Baltimore Orioles' offseason roster battles. We’ve got three major segments coming up: we’re breaking down the most critical position group right now, we’re looking at two other depth-chart wars, and then we’re making our final roster-cut predictions. But first, a quick note.
Vanessa: If you love these deep dives into team strategy and player matchups, please consider supporting us. Your contributions keep this show free and daily. Just head to the link in the episode description to chip in—every bit helps us bring you more of this content.
Nick: Thanks for listening. Let’s get into it.
Vanessa: So, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Pete Alonso had a monster year. Forty-three home runs. He took over the AL lead with that doubleheader win against New York. But where does he fit long-term? And more importantly, who is battling him for playing time or spot roles around him?
Nick: Well, first off, congratulations to Pete. That was a historic campaign. But when we talk about roster battles, we have to look at First Base. It looks like a lock for Alonso, sure. But look at the rest of the infield. You’ve got Coby Mayo at third base, Christian Encarnacion-Strand also at third, and Blaze Alexander there too. That is a massive logjam at the hot corner.
Vanessa: Right. So Alonso is safe. But that third-base congestion is the biggest battle in camp right now. Who wins that fight?
Nick: This is where it gets tactical. You have Coby Mayo, who has the raw power but struggles with plate discipline. Then you have Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who offers better contact skills and defensive versatility. And Blaze Alexander? He’s a high-upside arm who can hit from both sides but has injury concerns. If the Orioles want to compete in the AL East next year, they can’t carry three players who primarily play third base unless one of them moves.
Vanessa: Exactly. And remember, we predicted earlier this week that they’d need to acquire starting pitching. Well, if they do that, they might not have the flexibility to keep all three of those infielders. Who do you think gets the nod as the primary third baseman?
Nick: I’m leaning toward Encarnacion-Strand. Why? Because of the lineup construction. You have Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Jackson Holliday at second. You need someone who can make contact and drive in runs behind Alonso. Mayo’s strikeout rate is too high for a full-time role alongside guys like Holliday who value OBP. Encarnacion-Strand provides that balance.
Vanessa: But what about Mayo’s upside? He’s young. Teams usually bet on youth.
Nick: They do. But look at the competition in the AL East. The Yankees aren’t waiting. If Mayo doesn’t improve his approach, he becomes a bench player or a trade asset. Encarnacion-Strand gives you immediate stability. That’s the safer bet for an 85-to-95 win season, which we discussed as our target.
Vanessa: Okay, so Encarnacion-Strand edges out Mayo for the starting job. What happens to the others? Do they get shipped out?
Nick: Likely. If they sign those two starting pitchers we’re talking about, they need roster spots. Alexander might be the odd man out unless he plays elsewhere. But this battle defines their offensive identity. Power vs. Contact. It’s a classic dilemma.
Vanessa: Alright, let’s move to Segment Two. We’ve covered the infield logjam. Now let’s talk about the outfield. This is another area where the Orioles are stacked. Colton Cowser, Luis Robert Jr., Rece Hinds, Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjerstad, Reed Trimble, Christian Franklin, Leody Taveras. That is eight outfielders listed on the roster. How do you trim that down?
Nick: Eight outfielders? That’s excessive. Especially when you consider that you only have nine spots. You have Alonso at first, you have Henderson at short, Holliday at second. You need defensive specialists in the corners. Luis Robert Jr. is clearly the everyday center fielder. He’s elite defensively and has the speed to cover ground.
Vanessa: So Robert is locked in center. Who’s left for the corners? Cowser and Hinds seem like the frontrunners.
Nick: Cowser is the favorite for left field. He’s consistent, he knows the system, and he pairs well with Alonso. Rece Hinds is the wild card. He has huge power, but his defense is questionable. If Hinds can’t play right field effectively, he’s a DH candidate. But Alonso is already your DH/First Baseman. So Hinds has to prove he can handle the corner outfield spots.
Vanessa: What about the younger guys? Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad. They’ve been developing in the minors. Do they have a shot at the big league roster?
Nick: Beavers is intriguing because he’s a switch-hitter with speed. But Kjerstad? He’s a lefty who needs regular at-bats. With the way the roster is constructed, he might be the first guy cut if they need to add a pitcher. It’s brutal, but that’s the reality of modern baseball. You need five starters and eight relievers. That leaves very little room for marginal outfielders.
Vanessa: So it sounds like Robert, Cowser, and Hinds are the core. But Hinds’ defense is the question mark. If he struggles in spring training, does Kjerstad steal the right field job?
Nick: Only if Hinds continues to miss balls. Defensively, Hinds has work to do. But offensively, he’s too dangerous to ignore. I think they keep Hinds, but they put pressure on him to play every day. If he slips, Kjerstad or even Leody Taveras could see time. Taveras brings speed, which is valuable if you’re trying to score runs around Alonso.
Vanessa: Speed is key. Remember, the Yankees beat them in some close games this year. Adding speed changes the game.
Nick: It does. But you can’t sacrifice too much defense for it. You’re playing in Camden Yards. The fences are short. One bad hop in right field can cost you a run. So Hinds has to be reliable. If he isn’t, the front office will look elsewhere.
Vanessa: Okay, so we have the infield logjam and the outfield surplus. Let’s go to Segment Three. Roster Cut Predictions. We’ve got twenty-one players on this roster list. Five are pitchers (wait, no, let me count). Bassitt, Bautista, Baz, Cano, De Leon, Foster, Garcia, Gibson, Heuer, Hiraldo, Hoppe, Kittredge, Nunez, Povich, Rogers, Sanders, Suarez, Walker, Wolfram, Young, Zulueta. That’s twenty-one pitchers? No, wait. Let’s look at the list again.
Nick: Actually, Vanessa, looking at the list, you have Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Trey Gibson, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young as starters. That’s six. And then the rest are relievers. Felix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Luis De Leon, Cameron Foster, Rico Garcia, Codi Heuer, Yaramil Hiraldo, Alex Hoppe, Andrew Kittredge, Anthony Nunez, Cam Sanders, Albert Suarez, Josh Walker, Grant Wolfram, Yosver Zulueta. That’s fifteen relievers. Plus the catchers and position players.
Vanessa: Fifteen relievers! That’s insane. Most teams carry eight or nine. Who is getting cut here? We know Bautista is the closer. He’s elite. But who else is trending down?
Nick: This is where the rain-cancelled finale hurts our analysis, honestly. We didn’t get to see how everyone finished the year. But based on past performance, guys like Cam Sanders and Albert Suarez are on thin ice. They’re veterans, but if they haven’t shown they can handle high-leverage innings, they’re expendable.
Vanessa: What about the younger arms? Yaramil Hiraldo or Anthony Nunez?
Nick: Hiraldo and Nunez are interesting. They have upside. But if the Orioles sign those two starting pitchers we talked about, they might need to clear bullpen spots. I think Josh Walker or Grant Wolfram are the most likely cuts. They’re reliable, but they’re not essential. If you need a fifth starter, you’d rather promote one of the minor leaguers than keep a veteran reliever who isn’t closing.
Vanessa: So, Walker and Wolfram are on the block. And maybe one of the lower-tier relievers like Alex Hoppe or Cameron Foster?
Nick: Hoppe is definitely a name to watch. If he hasn’t developed a third pitch, he’s limited. Foster has been inconsistent. I’d say those two are in the mix for cuts. It’s harsh, but the market is tight. Everyone wants pitching. If the Orioles can trade a reliever for a prospect, they should.
Vanessa: And what about the catchers? Samuel Basallo, Carlos Narvaez, Yohel Pozo. Is there a battle there too?
Nick: Basallo is the future. He’s young, he hits well. Narvaez is the veteran presence. Pozo is the utility option. I think Basallo starts, Narvaez backs him up, and Pozo is the fourth catcher if they keep three. But if they cut a reliever, they might drop a catcher to make room. It’s a fluid situation.
Vanessa: So, final predictions. Alonso stays at first. Encarnacion-Strand wins third. Robert, Cowser, Hinds in the outfield. And we lose Walker, Wolfram, and maybe Hoppe from the bullpen. Does that sound right to you?
Nick: That sounds about right. It’s a streamlined roster. More focus on pitching upgrades, less clutter in the outfield. If they execute this, they’re competitive in the AL East. But if they mess up the third-base decision, it hurts their offense significantly.
Vanessa: Nick, thanks for breaking this down. To our listeners, that’s our episode. We looked at the Alonso impact, the infield logjam, the outfield surplus, and our roster cut predictions. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review the show. It helps more fans find us.
Nick: And don’t forget, the offseason is just beginning. Keep an eye on those starting pitcher acquisitions. We’ll be here to analyze every move.
Vanessa: Go Birds!