SARASOTA, Fla. — The wait is over.

The Orioles will take the field today at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex for their first workout of the year after their pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Wednesday.

Baltimore enters 2025 with high expectations again and more pressure after the past two seasons have ended in playoff sweeps. Projection systems expect the Orioles, who signed several free agents to modest contracts this offseason, to compete for the American League East title with the defending-champion New York Yankees.

With spring training underway, here’s what you need to know.

Important dates

First pitchers and catchers workout: Today

Position players report date: Monday

First full-squad workout: Tuesday

First spring training game: Feb. 22 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Last spring training game: March 23 at Atlanta Braves

Opening day: March 27 at Toronto Blue Jays

Home opener: March 31 vs. Boston Red Sox

Broadcast schedule

The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast eight of the Orioles’ 30 games during spring training. That number is far fewer than most regional sports networks show for their MLB teams, but it’s one more than MASN aired last spring.

The network aired an average of three games from 2021 to 2023, but that number jumped to seven last year and eight this spring. The Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees — the Orioles’ main competitors in the AL East — will also televise more than 20 spring training games this year.

MASN will show the following eight contests:

Feb. 22 vs. Pittsburgh March 1 vs. Pittsburgh March 3 vs. Boston March 10 vs. Pittsburgh March 11 at New York Yankees March 17 at Boston March 20 vs. New York Yankees March 22 at Pittsburgh

The following 12 games will be broadcast on the Orioles Radio Network:

Feb. 22 vs. Pittsburgh Feb. 23 at Philadelphia March 1 vs. Pittsburgh March 2 at Philadelphia March 8 vs. Tampa Bay March 9 vs. Minnesota March 14 vs. Minnesota March 15 at Pittsburgh March 16 vs. Philadelphia March 21 vs. Detroit March 22 at Pittsburgh March 23 vs. Atlanta

Who’s gone?

It’s impossible to tell the story of the Mike Elias era of Orioles baseball without Anthony Santander. But beginning today, the next chapter won’t include “Tony Taters.”

The Orioles did not re-sign Santander, who instead agreed to a $92.5 million contract this offseason with the Blue Jays. Baltimore will have to replace the career-high 44 homers he blasted last season while also trying to prevent him from taking Orioles pitchers deep.

However, Santander wasn’t the club’s biggest loss this winter. Corbin Burnes pitched spectacularly for Baltimore in 2024, but it was his last in Charm City. The right-hander signed a $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving the Orioles without an ace.

Three other players who ended the 2024 season with the Orioles aren’t back with them this year: catcher James McCann, outfielder Austin Slater and left-hander John Means. Slater signed a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, but McCann and Means are still free agents. Means is recovering from his second Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and might not be ready to pitch in the big leagues this season.

Who’s new?

The Orioles weren’t able to outbid the Diamondbacks for Burnes, and they weren’t contenders for the other aces in free agency. The trade market has been slow this offseason, with the No. 1 starters reportedly up for sale still with the same teams.

To replace Burnes, Elias is looking to replace the perennial Cy Young Award candidate in the aggregate, as the “Moneyball” saying goes. The general manager added two veteran starters with proven track records on one-year contracts: 41-year-old Charlie Morton ($15 million) and Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano ($13 million).

Morton is one of MLB’s oldest players, but he’s been durable and successful for years, recording a 4.19 ERA in 30 starts for the Atlanta Braves last season. Morton will likely slot in as the Orioles’ No. 3 starter. Sugano is one of the most decorated pitchers in Japanese history, and he’s taking his shot at the major leagues this season. While it’s never a guarantee a pitcher from Japan adjusts to the big leagues, Sugano’s career success and strike-throwing ability make him an intriguing option for the back end of the Orioles’ rotation.

To replace Santander in the outfield, Elias signed slugger Tyler O’Neill, who hit 31 long balls for the Red Sox last season, for $49.5 million over three years. It marked the first time that Elias signed a free agent to a multiyear major league contract since he took over Baltimore’s front office in November 2018. O’Neill, a right-handed hitter, has injury concerns, but he’s one of baseball’s best hitters against left-handed pitching and has high upside. O’Neill will likely receive more time off than Santander did, but whether the Orioles can replace Santander will largely land on his shoulders.

Elias also signed outfielders Ramón Laureano and Dylan Carlson to one-year contracts. Laureano, a right-handed hitter who can play all three outfield spots, is a candidate to platoon with Cedric Mullins in center field. Carlson has minor league options and will likely begin the year in Triple-A, but he’ll provide valuable depth as a switch-hitter.

The bullpen was already due for a boost with the return of Félix Bautista from injury, but Elias also added Andrew Kittredge, signing the setup man to a one-year, $10 million contract. Kittredge, a right-hander, posted a 2.80 ERA in 70 2/3 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

Behind the plate, Elias brought in catcher Gary Sánchez to replace McCann as Adley Rutschman’s backup. Sánchez, who began his career as a Yankee, has revitalized his career in recent years as a backup catcher with improved defense.

What roster spots are up for grabs?

Assuming health, there will be few competitions this spring, but Thursday is a common day for Elias to reveal a few injuries. Last year, it was Kyle Bradish and John Means who were revealed to be behind schedule because of elbow injuries.

Utilityman Jorge Mateo’s health is one of the biggest unanswered questions entering spring training. He underwent left elbow surgery in late August, and his status for opening day is in doubt.

Of the 13 spots for position players, 11 are locks, including Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser. One of the final two bench spots will go to an infielder, likely Ramón Urías or Mateo. The other one will probably go to a player who can play the outfield. If Mateo begins the season on the injured list, that last spot would likely go to outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad. Other options on the 40-man roster include Carlson and corner infielder Coby Mayo. Or the Orioles could dip into one of their 27 nonroster invitees.

There doesn’t seem to be much wiggle room for the pitching staff, either. If the Orioles stick with a traditional five-man rotation, those spots will likely go to Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Morton and Sugano. Albert Suárez, Trevor Rogers, Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young are other starters on the 40-man roster who will compete for a roster spot.

In the bullpen, the biggest questions are about Bautista’s health and what the club decides to do with its final relief spot. The Orioles have said they’re not going to rush Bautista as he returns from Tommy John surgery, but a hiccup-free spring should see him on the opening day roster. The final bullpen spot will either go to a short reliever without a history of big league success (Bryan Baker, Colin Selby, Kade Strowd, Luis González or Roansy Contreras) or a starting pitcher moonlighting as a long reliever (Suárez, Rogers, Povich or Young).

Which prospects will be in camp?

Last spring, the loudest cheers for an Orioles player during workouts or games at Ed Smith Stadium were for Jackson Holliday, then the No. 1 prospect in baseball.

The Orioles still have a healthy farm system, but there are fewer stud prospects to dream about. The kids have grown up and are now just big leaguers.

Seven of the Orioles’ top 10 prospects are in big league camp. Catcher Samuel Basallo, the club’s top prospect according to Baseball America, headlines the Orioles’ group of nonroster invitees, alongside outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr., Jud Fabian and Dylan Beavers.

Mayo, Kjerstad and McDermott, ranked as the club’s Nos. 2, 3, and 5 prospects, are all in camp as 40-man roster members.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.