As we near the start of the 2026 season, one of the most anticipated events is the reveal of the promotional schedule.
This year, a few giveaways that are lined up make this season one of the best for giveaways the Orioles have had in a while.
Everyone saw the news of the Tupac Shakur bobblehead that took social media by storm. They even added 5,000 more bobbleheads to that giveaway day on Friday, May 8.
The other giveaway I thought was a genius idea is the Saturday, April 11 bobblehead of Jackson Holliday and his dog Coconut. This bobblehead coincides with the first Bark at the Park night this season.
Especially in the early season when the weather can still be chilly, giveaways like that Holliday and Coconut bobblehead or the Kyle Bradish jersey hoodie go a long way. After last year, there is nothing wrong with upping the giveaway game a bit to draw fans back to the ballpark.
Another way to draw fans back will be to finally lock up a top-of-the-rotation arm to add to the starting rotation.
Unfortunately, another two options for the Orioles became unavailable this week, as right-hander Freddy Peralta was dealt to the New York Mets and left-hander MacKenzie Gore was traded to the Texas Rangers.
That still leaves left-hander Framber Valdez as the top, and now at this point one of the only, options for the Orioles to bring in to slot in at the top of the rotation.
It had been rumored that the Orioles were interested in signing 42-year-old right-hander Justin Verlander. That signing coming by itself would be a move that immediately would designate the O’s for another finish towards the bottom of the AL East.
Without Valdez or someone like right-hander Zac Gallen to supplement the rotation, it gets to the point of looking a little scary and far too familiar to the rotation we saw last season.
President of baseball operations and acting-GM Mike Elias has had a hell of an offseason so far, between signing Pete Alonso, getting bullpen help with Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge and even adding an arm with potential to the rotation in Shane Baz.
However, it just still is not enough, and the offseason clock is getting ready to strike midnight.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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