The Orioles struck gold with Pete Alonso but got burned with Tyler O’Neill.
Best Contract: First Baseman Pete Alonso (Five years, $155 million)
At first glance, labeling Pete Alonso’s new deal as the Baltimore Orioles’ best contract might seem risky. After all, the first baseman is now one of the highest-paid players at his position and has just signed the largest contract in franchise history. Yet the move represents a turning point for Baltimore. It signals that the front office is willing to be aggressive in free agency and that the Orioles are now an attractive destination for star talent.
Alonso arrives in Baltimore after spending his entire seven-year career with the New York Mets, joining the Orioles earlier this December. At 31 years old, he remains firmly in his prime and brings with him an impressive track record. His accolades include the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year Award, five All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger.
Durability has been one of Alonso’s defining traits. In 2025, he appeared in all 162 games for the second consecutive season, underscoring his reliability. He also delivered strong production, posting a .272 batting average, a .347 on-base percentage, an .871 OPS, 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. Those numbers highlight both his consistency and his ability to anchor the middle of a lineup.
For Baltimore, Alonso’s signing is more than just adding a power bat. It is a statement of intent, showing that the organization is committed to building a contender around its young core.
Worst Contract: Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Three years, $49.5 million)
Signed just one offseason ago in 2024, Tyler O’Neill was expected to bring stability and power to the Orioles’ young lineup. Instead, he failed to deliver on either front. O’Neill missed significant time with neck inflammation, a left shoulder impingement and right wrist issues, appearing in only 54 games. When he was on the field, his performance showed a clear drop-off.
The 30-year-old veteran posted a .199 batting average, a .292 on-base percentage, a .684 OPS, nine home runs and 26 RBIs. Those numbers represent a steep decline from the production Baltimore thought it was paying for. Just a year earlier with the Boston Red Sox, O’Neill hit .241 with a .336 on-base percentage, an .847 OPS, 31 home runs and 61 RBIs. That level of output suggested he could be a middle-of-the-order threat, but the Orioles have instead been left with a player whose bat has gone quiet and whose health remains unreliable.
With two years left on his deal, O’Neill’s contract has quickly become a burden. Baltimore invested in him to complement its emerging core and provide veteran power, but his inability to stay on the field and declining production have made the deal one of the least effective on the roster.
For a franchise trying to build momentum and prove it can contend in the American League East, committing nearly $50 million to a player who has not lived up to expectations is a costly misstep.