The Baltimore Orioles are heading into the 2025-2026 offseason as one of the teams likely to be among the most active. After a major letdown in 2025, the Orioles now have the ammo to acquire talent for the 2026 season and beyond.
While starting pitching is a priority, another one of the main areas that the president of baseball operations, Mike Elias, is planning to target is the bullpen.
As Will Sammon and Ken Rosnethal of The Athletic shared, Elias is specifically targeting a closer amid the injury recovery of Felix Bautista. IT's not expected to be a superficial interest either; Elias plans to be aggressive.
Orioles plan to aggressively pursue closer help this winter
"Ideally, we're going to acquire somebody who has closer experience, that's good against righties and lefties," Elias said. "There are a few teams (trying to do) that. Maybe there's not enough to go around. But it's at the top of our list."
After acquiring Andrew Kittredge back from the Chicago Cubs, the bullpen is starting to come into form. But a closer is still a huge priority, according to Elias.
Whether it's a free agent, like Devin Williams or Edwin Diaz, or a trade target, the Orioles are going to be active in the closer market this winter.
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The forfeiture of a draft pick, which has been something Elias has avoided in past seasons, is something he's open to this season. So a player like Diaz, who has a qualifying offer from the New York Mets, is someone the Orioles could reasonably target.
"But our preference is to land an experience closer this winter," Elias said.
A huge move could be in the works for the Orioles, as Baltimore is seemingly emerging as one of the biggest spenders this winter. Adding a closer to the bullpen would be huge, especially until Bautista returns.
Baltimore is going to go after a closer this winter, as Elias is clearly targeting some of the top names available in free agency, and by trade if needed.
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