5 Orioles Players Who Likely Played Their Final Games in Baltimore After a Disappointing 2025
The 2025 season didn’t go the way the Baltimore Orioles or their fans hoped. After last year’s playoff run, expectations in Birdland were sky-high — but instead of October baseball, the O’s find themselves on the outside looking in. With the season winding down, attention has shifted to the offseason, and that means tough roster decisions are looming.
While the front office already flipped several expiring contracts at the trade deadline, a handful of players still remain who may have reached the end of their run in orange and black. With 2026 shaping up as a reload year built around a young, hungry core, there simply won’t be room for everyone.
Here are five Orioles who could be heading elsewhere once this disappointing season comes to a close.
Tomoyuki Sugano: Solid Debut, But Likely a One-and-Done
Sugano’s transition from Japan to MLB went better than many expected — 149 2/3 innings, a 4.39 ERA, and a 10-8 record are nothing to scoff at. But the advanced numbers paint a darker picture, with his 5.79 xERA suggesting his success may have come with a bit of luck. At 35 and on a one-year deal, Sugano filled a desperate need for innings but doesn’t fit the long-term vision. Expect the Orioles to pursue younger, higher-upside arms in free agency.
Gary Sánchez: Injuries Spoil a Comeback Try
The veteran catcher’s season was derailed by injuries, limiting him to just 29 games. His .231/.297/.418 slash line wasn’t disastrous, but the Orioles’ catching depth — with Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo, and Alex Jackson ready to roll — leaves little room for Sánchez. His one-year, $8.5 million contract is set to expire, and so too is his time in Baltimore.
Zach Eflin: From Hero to Question Mark
Eflin was a huge part of the 2024 playoff push, even earning a postseason start. But in 2025, everything fell apart — an ERA over 5, a negative WAR, and a regression that echoes his early-career struggles. At 31, he may still find a second wind elsewhere, but the Orioles don’t have the luxury of waiting. Expect Eflin to move on.
Jorge Mateo: The Odd Man Out
Mateo’s speed and versatility have always made him a valuable piece, but injuries and the emergence of Jeremiah Jackson have shifted the equation. With a $5.5 million club option for 2026, the Orioles may decide that Jackson — younger, cheaper, and more effective down the stretch — is the better fit. Mateo could be a trade candidate or simply cut loose this winter.
Ryan Mountcastle: The Big Question at First Base
This is the tough one. Mountcastle’s production has fallen off a cliff, with just a .256 average, five home runs, and an 83 OPS+. Combine that with Coby Mayo’s struggles at the same position, and first base has become a glaring hole. But Mountcastle’s arbitration cost makes him the more expendable of the two. Expect Mayo to get more runway in 2026, while Mounty may be non-tendered.
Looking Ahead
The Orioles still believe they can contend — just not with the same roster that disappointed in 2025. As Mike Elias and the front office gear up for a critical offseason, don’t be surprised if these five players are among the first moves made to clear space for the next wave of talent.
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