Free agency is here, and the Orioles are expected to be legitimate players in the open market.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said at the end of the season that he has full support from owner David Rubenstein to approach this offseason the way he wants. Will that mean signing free agents to lucrative contracts?

The answer to that remains to be seen, and there’s still one month before the winter meetings and more than three months remaining before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

With free agency underway, here’s a look at 25 free agents who make sense for the Orioles to sign.

Note: All contract projections are via MLB Trade Rumors.

Starting pitchers

Corbin Burnes (projected seven years, $200 million): It worked out in 2024, didn’t it? Burnes, 30, is one of baseball’s best aces and is the top starting pitcher on the market. A reunion isn’t likely, but he proved in 2024 that he’s a good fit.

Blake Snell (projected five years, $160 million): If the Orioles miss out on Burnes, there are two other elite starting pitchers on the market. One is Snell, a 31-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner who is projected to receive a shorter contract than his contemporaries.

Max Fried (projected six years, $156 million): Fried, 30, might be the best value of the three. The two-time All-Star has a career 3.07 ERA with the Atlanta Braves and likely won’t cost as much on a per-year basis as Burnes or Snell.

Sean Manaea (three years, $60 million): The next tier of starting pitchers is a group of solid No. 3 starters who will likely receive two- or three-year contracts worth at least $20 million per year. Manaea, 32, is coming off perhaps the best season of his career in which the lefty went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA for the New York Mets.

Yusei Kikuchi (three years, $60 million): The Orioles are quite familiar with Kikuchi, whose numbers would be much better if he never had to face Baltimore and Ryan Mountcastle. However, the 33-year-old southpaw posted a career-best 4.68 strikeout-to-walk ratio with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros in 2024.

Nathan Eovaldi (two years, $44 million): Eovaldi, 34, would give the Orioles another Zach Eflin-esque right-hander — and one who is an elite postseason performer.

Andrew Heaney (two years, $24 million): The next tier of starters is a group of back-end starters who are projected for modest two-year deals. Heaney, 33, has had success against Baltimore the past two years with the Texas Rangers and would give the Orioles a coveted left-hander to pitch in front of Camden Yards’ deep left field wall.

Jose Quintana (two years, $20 million): Quintana, 35, is battling a declining strikeout rate, but the lefty still posted a solid 3.75 ERA with the Mets in 2024.

Matthew Boyd (two years, $25 million): The 33-year-old southpaw returned from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2024 and pitched to a 2.72 ERA in eight starts for the Cleveland Guardians.

Justin Verlander (one year, $12 million): Elias could also choose to supplement his rotation with a veteran starter on a one-year deal. Verlander, whose bona fides don’t need to be listed, could be a high-upside shot to take.

Shane Bieber (one year, $12 million): The Orioles have one starter in Kyle Bradish who will miss at least the first half of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. If they sign Bieber, they’d have two as the former Guardians ace could take a one-year prove-it deal before seeking a larger contract next winter.

Catchers

James McCann (no projection available): Why fix what wasn’t broken? McCann has been good enough as Adley Rutschman’s backup, and a one-year deal for him could give way for prospect Samuel Basallo in 2026.

Carson Kelly (N/A): The Orioles could again prefer their backup catcher be a right-handed hitter who performs better against left-handed pitchers. Kelly fits that mold. The 30-year-old’s career .681 OPS certainly doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s a career .258 hitter with an .812 OPS versus southpaws as well as being a plus pitch-framer.

Travis d’Arnaud (N/A): This 12-year veteran posted a .922 OPS versus lefties in 2024 and has a reputation as an elite pitch framer.

Right-handed bats

Anthony Santander (four years, $80 million): It’s hard to imagine the middle of Baltimore’s lineup without the switch-hitting Santander in it. To bring back the 44-homer man, the Orioles will have to pony up.

Tyler O’Neill (three years, $42 million): If the Orioles can’t bring back Santander, there are few logical options to replace him. O’Neill is one of them. The 29-year-old has two 30-homer seasons and two Gold Glove Awards under his belt. His floor is lower than Santander’s (0.3 WAR in 2023), but his ceiling is higher (6.1 WAR in 2021).

Harrison Bader (one year, $8 million): Baltimore might also lean on Heston Kjerstad to replace Santander in right field. The Orioles could then seek out a platoon outfielder to play against left-handed starters. Bader, a former Gold Glover, has a career .776 OPS against lefties.

Randal Grichuk (N/A): In a platoon role with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Grichuk slashed .291/.348/.528 — good for an .875 OPS — in 2024.

Mark Canha (N/A): Canha, 35, has been a near-everyday player for most of his career, but he might need to accept a platoon role in 2025. He posted a .380 on-base percentage and a .774 OPS against lefties in 2024.

Paul Goldschmidt (one year, $15 million): Similar to Verlander, Goldschmidt is a potential future Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career. He declined in 2024, but he still has a stellar pedigree. This signing is unlikely unless the Orioles trade Mountcastle.

Relief pitchers

Clay Holmes (three years, $30 million): If the Orioles want to shop at the top of the reliever market, Holmes is a name that could make sense. The former Yankee has both setup and closing experience while putting together four straight good seasons.

Paul Sewald (N/A): Considering the Orioles declined lefty Danny Coulombe’s modest $4 million team option, that could mean they’re comfortable with the three lefties presently slated to be in their bullpen: Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin. That makes it more likely the Orioles add a right-hander to the mix. Sewald had a down 2024 campaign, but he was one of baseball’s best closers in 2023.

José Leclerc (N/A): It’s more likely the Orioles fish in the middle of this market, perhaps hoping to find one or two undervalued arms on one-year contracts. Leclerc also regressed in 2024 after his magical postseason run with the Rangers last October, but he posted sub-3.00 ERAs in both 2022 and 2023 and sports a career 11.8 strikeout rate.

Yimi García (N/A): García’s plus stuff and low walk rate make him an intriguing option. The Orioles are familiar with the 34-year-old after he spent the previous three seasons in Toronto.

Kendall Graveman (N/A): Graveman, 33, posted a 2.74 ERA from 2021 to 2023 before missing all of this past season because of shoulder surgery. He’s expected to be healthy for the start of next season.

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