David Rubenstein wanted the Orioles to act like a big-market team, and Mike Elias listened.
The Baltimore Orioles are operating in a way fans have never seen before under Mike Elias. According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, Elias has spent more money this offseason on MLB free agents ($185 million) than he did in his first seven offseasons as Orioles GM combined ($167 million).
That eye-opening stat shows just how much has changed in Charm City since owner David Rubenstein took over the franchise before the 2024 season and gave Elias the green light to spend big on outside talent.
The Orioles' Major Moves So Far
The biggest splash came at the Winter Meetings when Baltimore signed first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, which is the largest free agent deal in franchise history by average annual value.
Alonso hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBI for the New York Mets in 2025 while playing all 162 games and winning his first Silver Slugger Award.
Before that, the Orioles brought in closer Ryan Helsley on a two-year, $28 million deal.
Helsley led MLB with 49 saves in 2024 and owns a career 2.96 ERA with 105 saves over seven seasons, even though he struggled after being traded to the Mets late in 2025.
Elias also traded for outfielder Taylor Ward from the Angels in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and brought back reliever Andrew Kittredge, who was dealt away at last year's deadline.
Why the Urgency Now?
The Orioles are coming off a rough 75-87 season in which they finished last in the AL East after making the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024.
The team fired manager Brandon Hyde in May and dealt away several players at the trade deadline, and now the front office is trying to bounce back quickly.
Elias has made it clear that adding a frontline starting pitcher is still the top priority.
The Orioles have been connected to names like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Michael King, and Tatsuya Imai throughout the offseason.
Baltimore's rotation struggled badly in 2025, posting a 4.65 ERA from starters that ranked among the worst in the American League.
What Comes Next?
Elias said at the Winter Meetings that the team has payroll space to add both a big arm and a big bat, and he has clearly delivered on one of those so far.
The Orioles went into 2025 with an Opening Day payroll around $165 million, and their current commitments for 2026 sit around $118 million, which leaves plenty of room for more moves.
With young stars like Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, and Adley Rutschman already on the roster, adding proven veterans like Alonso and Helsley could be exactly what Baltimore needs to return to contention in 2026.