Vanessa: You are listening to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we don’t just cover the game—we live it. I’m Vanessa, and this is your daily deep dive into the Baltimore Orioles.
Nick: And I’m Nick. It’s October 23rd, 2026. The season is officially in the books for Baltimore. They finished 79-82, second in the AL East, but let’s be honest—the real story isn’t on the field anymore. It’s in the front office.
Vanessa: That’s right. New GM Jared Banner has taken the reins from the Cubs organization, and fans have questions. Big ones. Today, we’re opening the mailbag. We’ll tackle Banner’s first priorities, the massive hole left by Pete Alonso, and that pitching logjam that needs serious trimming before spring training.
Nick: We’ve been talking about these exact issues for the last three days. We predicted two starting pitcher acquisitions, and we’re going to see if Banner can deliver on that promise. Let’s get into the questions.
Vanessa: First up, we have a question from Marcus in Baltimore. He writes: 'Nick and Vanessa, with Jared Banner now in charge, what is his immediate priority? Is it really just fixing the rotation, or does he need to overhaul the entire roster structure?' This is the big one, Nick.
Nick: It’s absolutely the rotation. Look at the facts. The Orioles finished 79-82. You can’t compete in the AL East with that record unless your pitching is elite, and it wasn’t. We talked yesterday about how the bullpen is stacked—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. But the starters? Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Trey Gibson, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young. That’s six. And Baz has injury history. The priority has to be stability.
Vanessa: So, you’re saying the surplus is in the bullpen, not the rotation?
Nick: Exactly. You have too many arms who can’t start. If Banner doesn’t move some of those relief pitchers, he’s capping his own payroll flexibility. He needs to acquire at least two reliable starting pitchers before spring training, like we’ve said. Maybe even three. That’s job number one.
Vanessa: Okay, so Banner fixes the rotation. Next question comes from Sarah in Towson. She asks: 'With Pete Alonso gone, who steps up at first base? The roster shows Samuel Basallo behind the plate, but no clear everyday first baseman listed except maybe some outfielders shifting around. How do we replace that power?' This is huge because, remember, Alonso hit 43 home runs last year.
Nick: It’s a void. A big one. Looking at the current roster, you’ve got Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Jackson Holliday at second, Jose Barrero also at shortstop. At third, you have Blaze Alexander, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Coby Mayo. None of them are natural first basemen. You’ve got Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjerstad, Reed Trimble in left, Colton Cowser, Christian Franklin, Luis Robert Jr., Leody Taveras in center, and Rece Hinds in right. There is no obvious replacement for Alonso’s 43-home-run production. Banner will likely have to trade for it or sign a free agent. This isn’t an internal fix.
Vanessa: That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans expecting another playoff run. But wait, there’s more context here. David Stearns, the Mets exec, recently said he gets no 'mulligans' on letting Pete Alonso go. Does that pressure Banner to act faster?
Nick: It adds urgency. Stearns learned that lesson the hard way. If Baltimore wants to stay competitive, they can’t make the same mistake twice. They can’t let their core talent walk without securing a replacement. So yes, the market is hot for first base help, and Banner needs to be aggressive.
Vanessa: Last question for this segment from @OriolesFan88 in Houston. He notes that while Baltimore missed the playoffs, other teams had silver linings. He asks: 'What was the actual bright spot of this 79-82 season for the Orioles organization?' Was it just development, or was there a specific player breakthrough?
Nick: Development is always the bright spot. Jackson Holliday continues to mature as a middle infielder. Gunnar Henderson is becoming an MVP candidate. But honestly? The biggest silver lining might be the clarity of the offseason. Now that the season is over, and the rain-cancelled finale against the Yankees didn’t happen, everyone knows exactly what needs to change. No more guessing games. Banner has a clean slate.
Vanessa: Let’s shift gears to roster battles. We have a question from Kevin in Dundalk. He writes: 'There’s a logjam at third base. Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Blaze Alexander are all on the roster. Who wins the job in spring training? And what happens to the others?' This is a classic Orioles problem—too much depth in the wrong spots.
Nick: This is a platoon situation waiting to happen. Coby Mayo has the highest ceiling, but he’s young. Encarnacion-Strand provides veteran stability. Alexander is a defensive specialist. My guess? Mayo starts, but if he struggles with plate discipline, Encarnacion-Strand takes over. And one of them gets traded. You can’t keep all three on a 25-man roster if you’re trying to add pitching. It’s a asset management issue.
Vanessa: So, trading depth for pitching makes sense? Because we know the rotation is the weak link.
Nick: Absolutely. If you can package a young third baseman like Mayo or Encarnacion-Strand for a proven starter, you upgrade the team’s win total significantly. Remember our prediction? We think the Orioles will achieve an 85 to 95 win total next year. That requires better starting pitching, not more bench players.
Vanessa: Next question from Maria in Westminster. She asks about the catching situation. Carlos Narvaez and Yohel Pozo are back, and Samuel Basallo is in the minors. Is Basallo ready for the majors? And does the team need another catcher given the recent injuries in the league?
Nick: Basallo is a prospect to watch, but he’s not ready to take over every day yet. Narvaez provides a solid backup option. Pozo offers versatility. I don’t think the Orioles need to add another catcher unless they trade one of their current guys to move a different asset. The focus should remain on the outfield and the rotation.
Vanessa: Okay, one more for this segment. From @BirdlandBen in Philadelphia. He asks: 'The outfield is crowded too. Colton Cowser, Rece Hinds, Heston Kjerstad, Dylan Beavers, Reed Trimble, plus Luis Robert Jr. and Leody Taveras. Who gets playing time? And does Banner need to clear house?' This is a lot of names for three positions.
Nick: It is crowded. Luis Robert Jr. is the clear everyday center fielder. Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad are competing for left and right. Rece Hinds has power but needs to refine his approach. Beavers, Trimble, and Taveras are fringe options. One thing is certain: Banner will likely trade one or two of these outfielders to address the pitching shortage. You can’t carry eight outfielders on a budget.
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Nick: Thanks for listening. We covered Banner’s rotation focus, the Alonso void, and the depth chart shuffles. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Birds!