After a season that fell far short of expectations, the Baltimore Orioles enter the offseason under pressure to deliver. Once touted as one of the league’s most-anticipated teams, they missed the playoffs entirely in 2025, fueling frustration among fans and raising questions about how they’ll respond.
The Orioles have been relatively quiet at the Winter Meetings, though they reportedly held serious talks with Kyle Schwarber before he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and later completed a trade with the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward.
Still, most of last season’s criticism wasn’t aimed at their lineup. It centered on an unreliable starting rotation that collapsed in key moments. At the meetings, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi even floated a scenario in which Baltimore makes a major push for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, a move that could allow them to leverage their surplus talent to trade for a frontline starter.
Did you know that Orioles GM Mike Elias was with the Astros when they drafted Kyle Tucker in 2015?@jonmorosi highlights where Baltimore currently stands in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes.#MLBNHotStove | @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/lg9BBZMjPj
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 10, 2025
Kyle Tucker deal could free assets for pitching help
Morosi reported that while the Orioles were in discussions with Kyle Schwarber’s representatives, they also used that time to explore the possibility of signing Tucker, who is represented by the same agency. Baltimore general manager Mike Elias was in Houston when the Astros drafted Tucker in 2015, a connection Morosi noted could make Elias more willing to commit significant resources to a player he already knows well.
Tucker has been one of the league’s most efficient and reliable performers, becoming one of only five players to post a WAR of at least 4.0 in each of the last five seasons. Adding the former World Series champion would bring veteran stability to a young lineup that still has limited postseason experience.
A Tucker signing, combined with the recent acquisition of Taylor Ward, would also give the Orioles a surplus of outfielders. Five of their top 10 prospects are outfielders as well, creating a pool of assets Baltimore could use to pursue pitching help.
Two clubs that have surfaced as potential trade partners are the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. Throughout the offseason, the Orioles have maintained steady dialogue with both teams regarding young starters Edward Cabrera and MacKenzie Gore.
The #Orioles are among clubs in the mix for Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera, per @Ken_Rosenthal.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 10, 2025
Here's what the club has to offer in terms of top prospects: https://t.co/8SBZAgh4Jd pic.twitter.com/tHOJQA7ugL
Each pitcher is in his mid-20s and entering his prime, making them appealing fits for a Baltimore rotation that struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season. In a deal, the Orioles could package prospects along with established players such as Colton Cowser to bolster the outfield depth of either club.
If the Orioles are serious about correcting last year’s shortcomings, adding Tucker and flipping their surplus talent for pitching could be the clearest path forward. Baltimore has the prospects, the roster flexibility and the urgency to act, now it’s a matter of whether they’re willing to push their chips in.