February Sparks: Three Sizzling Questions for the Orioles as Spring Training Nears
The calendar has officially flipped to February, and with it comes the unofficial start of the baseball season. As pitchers and catchers prepare to report to Sarasota, Florida, next week, the Baltimore Orioles enter the 2026 campaign surrounded by intrigue, questions, and renewed expectations. That intrigue begins with the installation of a new coaching staff led by first-year manager Craig Albernaz, who will be tasked with guiding Baltimore through a bounce-back season following a disappointing 2025 campaign. The Orioles finished last in the AL East with a 75-87 record despite high offseason expectations, prompting significant organizational change.
Beyond the coaching staff, Baltimore’s front office and ownership made headlines this offseason by emerging as one of the more aggressive teams in free agency. That activity was highlighted by the signing of former Mets slugger Pete Alonso to a five-year deal, along with several other notable transactions aimed at elevating the roster. The message from ownership was clear: the Orioles intend to compete with the American League’s elite. With Spring Training about to get underway, here are three key questions Baltimore must answer as the 2026 season approaches.
What Type of Impact Will New Roster Additions Have on Baltimore’s Success?
This winter, the Orioles did something they had not consistently done in recent years: they spent significant money and aggressively reshaped the roster. Baltimore supplemented its core through a mix of free-agent signings and trades in an effort to elevate its talent level within one of baseball’s most competitive divisions. That approach reignited long-standing debates about whether the organization was willing to “go big” and take risks that many small-market teams avoid. Under new ownership led by David Rubenstein, however, the Orioles sent a clear signal to their fanbase that a quicker retool was a priority. The most prominent move was the signing of Alonso, who is expected to anchor the middle of the lineup and provide much-needed power protection for hitters such as Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg. The 31-year-old has surpassed the 30-home-run mark in six of his seven Major League seasons and should play a major role in an offense that struggled in 2025 to consistently drive in runners.
Baltimore also bolstered its offense by acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels in a trade involving former starter Grayson Rodriguez. Ward brings another power bat to the lineup after hitting 36 home runs a season ago, and the Orioles are counting on him to help stabilize run production. On the pitching side, Baltimore made an equally bold move by prying Shane Baz away from division rival Tampa Bay. Baz brings frontline stuff and years of club control, but also injury history and inconsistency that make him one of the roster’s biggest wild cards. If Baz can stay healthy and tap into the swing-and-miss arsenal that once made him a top prospect, he could significantly raise the ceiling of a rotation that needed another high-octane arm. His performance, along with that of the other newcomers, will go a long way toward determining whether Baltimore’s aggressive offseason translates into real progress in the AL East standings.
Can the Orioles’ Young Up-and-Coming Prospects Take the Next Step?
Beyond the established core, the Orioles are counting heavily on two young talents expected to experience their first full Major League seasons in 2026: Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers. Both players flashed upside in limited action last year, but neither has faced the physical and mental grind of a 162-game schedule. For a team attempting to rebound quickly from a disappointing season, their development is not merely a luxury; it is a necessity. How quickly they adjust will shape both the lineup’s depth and the organization’s long-term outlook.
Basallo enters the season with as much hype as nearly any young catcher in baseball, placing the Orioles in a delicate balancing act. While his offensive upside is undeniable, the demands of catching at the Major League level require careful workload management. Working alongside Adley Rutschman, Basallo must build rapport with a revamped pitching staff while proving his power and plate discipline translate against advanced scouting and game planning. If he handles the challenge, Baltimore’s lineup instantly becomes far more imposing.
Beavers faces a different but equally important test as he attempts to carve out a permanent role in a crowded outfield. His blend of athleticism, on-base ability, and emerging power gives him everyday potential, but sustaining success against advanced pitching will be the real test. The Orioles will closely monitor how he adjusts once opposing teams develop a full scouting report on him. If Beavers can provide steady defense and consistent run production, he becomes a valuable cost-controlled piece in a roster increasingly balanced between youth and veteran investment.
Together, Basallo and Beavers represent the next wave of Baltimore’s youth movement. Their growth in 2026 will influence how aggressive the front office feels it needs to be at the trade deadline and beyond. A breakout from either player would not only lengthen the lineup but also relieve pressure on the club’s veteran bats. In a season where Baltimore is trying to prove 2025 was an anomaly, their development could be one of the defining storylines.
Is Trevor Rogers in Store for a Repeat of His 2025 Success?
Perhaps no player better embodies the Orioles’ hopes for a rapid turnaround than Trevor Rogers, whose 2025 campaign was one of baseball’s most notable rebound stories. After arriving in Baltimore with questions surrounding his health and consistency, Rogers retooled his approach and emerged as a stabilizing presence at the front of the rotation. Improved command, sharper secondary pitches, and renewed confidence allowed him to work deeper into games and give the Orioles a chance to win nearly every time he took the mound. The key question entering 2026 is whether that success is sustainable. Opposing teams have had an entire offseason to study his adjustments, and Rogers will need to continue evolving to stay ahead. Durability will also be closely monitored, as the Orioles cannot afford setbacks from a pitcher expected to anchor the staff. How he handles adversity and elevated expectations will say much about his long-term role in Baltimore.
Rogers’ performance carries implications beyond his individual statistics. If he maintains something close to his 2025 form, it stabilizes the rotation and allows other arms, including Baz and younger starters, to slot into more suitable roles. A dependable ace-level presence could also reduce strain on the bullpen and help the new coaching staff implement its pitching philosophy. In a division where margins are razor-thin, that stability can swing multiple games over the course of a season.
Ultimately, the Orioles do not need Rogers to be perfect; they need him to be dependable. If he delivers, Baltimore suddenly looks far more capable of pairing its revamped lineup with reliable pitching. If regression or health issues return, the rotation’s questions multiply quickly. That uncertainty makes Rogers one of the most fascinating and consequential storylines as Spring Training in Sarasota draws near.
