Baltimore Orioles News

Orioles shuffled the fringes of the 40-man: Kjerstad, Pozo and Zulueta outrighted, Taveras elected free agency, Mountcastle's option declined. Four waiver claims came in, and Trevor Rogers got a qualifying offer. 📋

Orioles shuffle 40-man roster as free agency period opens

camdenchat.com

Orioles trimmed the 40-man with a waiver spree: claimed RHP Josh White (Marlins), LHP Philip Abner (Mets), C Zach Morgan (Giants) and RHP Chase Hampton (Cardinals). Leody Taveras chose free agency, and Kjerstad, Zulueta and Pozo were outrighted. 📋

Orioles Make Four Waiver Claims; Leody Taveras Elects Free Agency

yardbarker.com

Orioles are done with Heston Kjerstad, the No. 2 pick in 2020, who cleared waivers and is now a free agent. Injuries limited him to 117 games in Baltimore from 2023-2026, with a .217 average and .649 OPS. Potential never fully met availability. 🩹

Orioles cut ties with Heston Kjerstad - BaltimoreBaseball.com

baltimorebaseball.com

Orioles reportedly are declining Ryan Mountcastle's $7.5M 2027 option, while Heston Kjerstad reportedly cleared waivers and heads to free agency. Neither move is club-confirmed. Mountcastle played just eight games in 2026 amid injuries and a crowded first-base picture. 🔒

O's decline Mountcastle's option; Kjerstad clears waivers, becomes free agent (sources)

mlb.com

Heston Kjerstad is now a free agent after clearing outright waivers, ending his Orioles run. The No. 2 pick in 2020 hit .217/.280/.359 (80 wRC+) in 333 MLB plate appearances, and no club claimed him. 👋

Orioles Release Heston Kjerstad

yardbarker.com

Orioles declined Ryan Mountcastle's $7.5 million 2027 option, sending the 29-year-old first baseman to free agency for the first time. He was limited to eight games this year, hitting .286. The Orioles drafted him in 2015, so the split ends a long run. 👋

Orioles Announce $7.5 Million Decision On Former Gold Glove Finalist

heavy.com

Orioles reportedly will decline Ryan Mountcastle's $7.5MM club option, sending the first baseman to free agency for the first time. A fractured foot and a serious oblique strain limited him to eight games this year, so Baltimore is moving on. 🔒

Orioles To Turn Down Ryan Mountcastle’s Club Option

yardbarker.com

Orioles No. 22 prospect Braxton Bragg earned AFL Pitcher of the Week honors. The right-hander threw four scoreless innings for Peoria, allowing five hits and a walk with three strikeouts, and picked up his first Fall League win. ⚾

Shelton (White Sox), Bragg (Orioles) secure top Week 4 honors in AFL

mlb.com

Gunnar Henderson's 2026: 3.2 bWAR, 24 HR, 623 ABs (AL-high), but a second straight year of regression. Power vanished after a nine-homer April. His 2027 rebound is the Orioles' X-factor behind Pete Alonso. 📉

Gunnar Henderson just wasn’t himself in 2026

camdenchat.com

Orioles outfield gets a failing grade for 2026, ranked the roster's weakest unit and a factor in missing October. Colton Cowser (B-) was the best of the group, while Taylor Ward was dealt to Seattle at the deadline. New GM Jared Banner may reshape it. 🧢

Grading the performance of the Orioles’ outfield in 2026

birdswatcher.com

Orioles roster cleanup is underway: Albert Suárez, Colin Selby and Codi Heuer cleared waivers. Suárez took free agency, while Selby and Heuer stay in the system. Mountcastle's $7.5M option and Trevor Rogers' qualifying offer decisions are due today. 🧹

Orioles news: Roster cleanup has begun

camdenchat.com

Jeremiah Jackson's 40-man spot looks shaky as the Orioles clear roster space ahead of a likely Dec. 1 lockout that would freeze transactions. He hit .276 after the Urías trade in 2025, but his '27 role is murky. 🔒

Jeremiah Jackson's uncertain place on '27 Orioles - BaltimoreBaseball.com

baltimorebaseball.com

Mailbag: Could Coby Mayo or Christian Encarnacion-Strand move to the outfield with Jordan Westburg back at third? A likely lockout and a shortened spring could limit time to learn the position, and Blaze Alexander, who has outfield experience, is another option.

Should Orioles try Mayo or Encarnacion-Strand in outfield? | MAILBAG - BaltimoreBaseball.com

baltimorebaseball.com

The headline names RHP Bragg as a Week 4 Fall League top performer, but the article content provided never describes his outing. The only Orioles detail is Patrick Reilly reaching 20 strikeouts in the AFL. Bragg isn't mentioned in the visible text, so I'll anchor on what's confirmed: Orioles pitching prospect Patrick Reilly has reached 20 strikeouts in the Arizona Fall League, and RHP Bragg earned a Week 4 top-performer nod. 🔥

Arizona Fall League Week 4 top performers

mlb.com

Orioles cut ties with Luis Robert Jr., declining his 2027 club option. He heads to free agency after a brief O's stint (1 HR, 3 games) before a hamstring injury. Jose Barrero and Albert Suarez also hit the market; Codi Heuer, Colin Selby outrighted. 📋

2026 Transactions: Nick Pivetta, Luis Robert Jr. Going to Free Agency

yardbarker.com

Orioles signed OF Rece Hinds, 26, to a one-year major league contract for 2027, while declining Zach Eflin's 2027 mutual option. Hinds arrived from Miami in an Aug. 3 cash deal and now gets a longer look. 📝

Baltimore Orioles Sign 26-Year-Old Outfielder With MLB Experience

heavy.com

Orioles are floated as a possible trade fit for Braves righty Spencer Strider in a CBS Sports list, after a 79-82 finish. Strider's arm woes, 5.31 ERA in eight 2026 appearances and $49M minimum owed make him a high-upside gamble. 🎲

Baltimore Orioles Urged to Make Bold Trade for Braves Struggling Star Pitcher

heavy.com

Orioles re-signed Rece Hinds on a deal barely above the league minimum, which makes him harder for rivals to claim if he's designated. Meanwhile, five 60-day IL players must return to a 33-man 40-man roster by tomorrow. Roster math, meet Hinds. 🧮

Orioles news: Rece Hinds will be back, clearing the 40-man roster

camdenchat.com

Utility prospect Brandon Butterworth, a throw-in from the 2025 Ryan O'Hearn/Ramón Laureano deal with San Diego, hit .269 with 10 homers in 52 games for Double-A Chesapeake in 2026, then .208 at Triple-A Norfolk. A left knee injury cost him time. 🔧

Orioles utility prospect Brandon Butterworth: 'I love being on the field. I love being available' - BaltimoreBaseball.com

baltimorebaseball.com

Orioles cleared Albert Suarez, Codi Heuer and Colin Selby through waivers. Suarez elected free agency, while Heuer took an outright assignment to Triple-A and Selby came off the 60-day IL to Norfolk. Suarez's return-trip streak may not be over. 🔄

Orioles Make Multiple Roster Moves

yardbarker.com