The Baltimore Orioles had a disappointing 2024 season that ended in the Wild Card Series. They had a great first half of the season but collapsed down the stretch and did not win a playoff game. And they already lost Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks and could lose Anthony Santander. The Orioles should add free agents Harrison Bader and JD Martinez, among others, to finish off their offseason.
The Orioles have a new owner, David Rubenstein, who should make his presence known this offseason. But considering they already missed out on one player they wanted to bring back, that should not be the assumption. Shopping in the bargain bin is not the worst thing for the Birds because of their strong core. If Adley Rutschman can bounce back and Gunnar Henderson continues his excellent career, they will be just fine.
The Orioles should not roll this team out and should add free agents this offseason. Who are they and how can they impact the team?
JD Martinez joins the Orioles as the designated hitter
The Orioles used Anthony Santander as both an outfielder and designated hitter last season. But offense is where they need to replace him, as he hit 44 home runs last season. While JD Martinez won’t replace all of those homers, he would be a great addition to the team. He was solid for the Mets last year despite missing all of Spring Training.
Martinez is also a veteran who could ease the tensions in the Orioles locker room. After another blown playoff opportunity, the pressure will be turned up in 2025. Martinez is fresh off a trip to the NLCS and has played on plenty of competitive and terrible teams in his long career. They brought in Charlie Morton for a similar reason, but Martinez could be that guy on the offensive side.
