Mike Elias Makes Decision on Trevor Rogers Ahead of MLB Free Agency

The Baltimore Orioles want Trevor Rogers back. President of baseball operations Mike Elias made that clear during the team's end-of-year press conference, saying the club's interest in re-signing the left-hander is very high and that he plans to reach out to Rogers' representatives before and during free agency, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. 

Rogers gave Baltimore plenty of reasons to feel that way. The 28-year-old finished 2026 with a 10-11 record, a 4.03 ERA and 157 strikeouts over a career-high 169 2/3 innings across 30 starts.

He closed the year strong as well, allowing just one run over four innings against the New York Yankees on September 25th. 

Rogers spent time on the 15-day injured list with an illness in April and struggled through May. But he turned it around.

In June, he went seven innings at Dodger Stadium and allowed just one hit in a dominant scoreless outing against Los Angeles, then carried that momentum into the second half and through the end of the season. 

The Orioles acquired Rogers from the Miami Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers.

The move looked rough at first when he posted a 7.11 ERA in four starts after arriving, but he came back in 2025 and was one of the best pitchers in baseball, posting a 1.81 ERA over 18 starts.

His 2026 numbers were not as dominant, but making all 30 of his scheduled starts and nearly leading the Orioles in innings pitched is its own kind of value on a staff that was crushed by injuries. 

Rogers has been open about wanting to experience free agency after earning it, but he has also said he would like to stay in Baltimore. Those two things are not mutually exclusive, and Elias' comments make it clear that the Orioles intend to be in that conversation from the start. 

Baltimore finished 79-82 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. The rotation is heading into the offseason with uncertainty. Chris Bassitt is a free agent and has even mentioned retirement as a possibility.

Kyle Bradish dealt with a sports hernia late in the year and has undergone surgery. Bringing back an established left-hander who already knows the organization and proved he can handle a full starter's workload would be huge.

Whether the price is right will be the question. Rogers is hitting free agency coming off a solid but not elite season, which could work in Baltimore's favor. Elias clearly wants him back. Now it comes down to getting a deal done.