Pitchers and catchers have reported to Sarasota, and that means spring training has officially begun.
They are joined by a sizable group of position players, including the Orioles’ new first baseman, Pete Alonso. Newly-acquired right-hander Chris Bassitt is also set to join the club after agreeing to a one-year, $18.5 million deal Wednesday night, pending a physical.
Bassitt’s addition may not have been the headline-grabbing move some envisioned — Zac Gallen was a popular target, and bigger names such as Max Scherzer and Lucas Giolito were available — but it was a necessary one.
The Orioles needed stability in the middle of their rotation, and Bassitt provides exactly that. Over the past five seasons, he has averaged 30 starts with a combined 3.66 ERA. That kind of reliability carries significant value, particularly for a club with postseason aspirations.
Ideally, Bassitt slots into the fourth spot in the rotation. That alignment raises an immediate question: What becomes of Dean Kremer?
If the Orioles opt for a five-man rotation, Kremer appears to be the odd man out. With Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers projected to lead the staff, Shane Baz settling into the third spot and Bassitt likely fourth, the final position would come down to Kremer or Zach Eflin. If Eflin enters camp fully healthy, as he has indicated, the choice leans clearly in his favor.
There is, however, another possibility. While six-man rotations are often met with skepticism, the structure could make sense for Baltimore early in the season.
Bradish is expected to be on some form of innings management, and both Rogers and Eflin are coming off shortened 2025 campaigns. A six-man alignment — at least initially — could help preserve their workloads and keep them fresh deeper into the year.
The Orioles’ success is heavily tied to Bradish’s availability; losing him late in the season would be a significant setback.
Such an approach could also benefit a bullpen that remains unsettled. Longer, more efficient starts from rested arms would reduce strain on a relief corps that, as currently constructed, still carries uncertainty.
As I stated previously, several position players have already arrived in Sarasota. Jordan Westburg is among them and is working back from an oblique strain suffered three weeks ago. Jackson Holliday, however, is absent as he prepares to undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his hamate bone, sustained Feb. 5.
Westburg’s situation is not yet alarming, but it is worth monitoring. This marks his third spring training and his second consecutive camp dealing with an injury.
The Orioles’ recent trade for Blaze Alexander — completed just one day before Holliday’s injury — now looms larger. While the cost, including Kade Strowd, was significant, the added infield depth is suddenly more meaningful.
On a brighter note, Pete Alonso has already made an impression. Reporters in Sarasota have documented his presence both on and off the field, engaging teammates, energizing workouts and embracing a leadership role.
When the Orioles committed five years and $155 million to Alonso, they were investing in more than a 40-home-run bat. They were investing in a veteran presence. Within days of camp opening, that presence has been evident.
There also appears to be a subtle shift in tone under new manager Craig Albernaz. He has spoken openly about fostering internal competition and camaraderie, and early glimpses from camp suggest that message is resonating. The atmosphere feels different — more energetic, more competitive. It is early, but the change is noticeable.
The remainder of the roster is scheduled to report Monday, Feb. 16. Soon enough, the Orioles will move from optimism to evaluation, and the shape of this club will begin to come into focus.
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