The MLB offseason is still gaining traction, but the early landscape around Kyle Tucker already has one unexpected suitor. While big-market teams are circling and the Toronto Blue Jays have been labeled an early favorite, the Baltimore Orioles have quietly positioned themselves as a legitimate threat in the All-Star outfielder’s market.
The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.
According to The Athletic, Baltimore is prioritizing pitching upgrades this winter but has not ruled out a serious run at Tucker.
The Orioles’ payroll is lean, their prospect depth is real, and their president of baseball operations, Mike Elias, was the Houston Astros’ scouting director when Tucker was drafted fifth overall in 2015.
Tucker’s track record makes him the type of player who can reshape a lineup overnight. The four-time All-Star hit.280/.362/.517 with 34 home runs and a.879 OPS in 2025 while playing above-average defense in right field. At 29, he hits free agency in his true prime.
Baltimore’s ability to enter the sweepstakes comes down to flexibility.
The club’s only long-term commitment is Samuel Basallo’s eight-year, $67 million contract, which carries an annual value of $8.375 million. Tyler O’Neill is the only other player guaranteed money beyond 2026. Even before the expected non-tenders of Ryan Mountcastle, Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano and Alex Jackson, next year’s payroll projects in the $93–100 million range. They opened 2025 at roughly $164 million. The oxygen is there to add real money.
If Baltimore pursued Tucker, the ripple effect would immediately reshape their trade leverage. They have already acquired Taylor Ward, and adding Tucker would allow them to dangle former first-round draft picks Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers in trade talks for controllable pitching. With names like Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, and several mid-rotation arms expected to be available, Baltimore would suddenly sit in a strong position to address its biggest weakness.
Other contenders remain firmly in play.
The Blue Jays are viewed as the most logical fit, the Phillies could pounce if Kyle Schwarber leaves, and the Yankees have kept Tucker on their radar alongside a possible Cody Bellinger reunion.
Baltimore may not be the favorite. But for the first time in years, the Orioles have the roster, the budget and the motivation to step into a pursuit like this — and they might be a far more serious player than anyone expected.
