The Baltimore Orioles, projected for one of the worst records in the league this time a year ago, stunned everyone and finished with an 83-79 mark last fall. It represented a +31 win improvement from a brutal 2021 (52-110), and it was the first time since 2016 that the club finished above .500. It was nothing short of a remarkable accomplishment for a team playing its games in an absurd AL East and a league-low payroll of just $44 million.
The big question: can they repeat?
Orioles Offseason Transactions
- Claimed outfielder Jake Cave off waivers from the Twins, later lost him on waivers to the Phillies
- Lost pitcher Jake Reed on waivers to the Red Sox
- Claimed catchers Mark Koloszvary and Aramis Garcia off waivers from the Reds
- Lost pitcher Beau Sulser on waivers to the Pirates
- Claimed outfielder Daz Cameron off waivers from the Tigers
- Claimed first baseman Lewin Diaz off waivers from the Pirates as part of the endless Diaz saga, later also claimed him off waivers from the Braves
- Signed pitcher Kyle Gibson to a one-year, $10 million contract
- Selected pitcher Andrew Politi from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft
- Signed second baseman/outfielder Adam Frazier to a one-year, $8 million contract
- Signed pitcher Mychal Givens to a one-year, $5 million contract with a mutual option for the 2024 season
- Acquired catcher James McCann and cash considerations from the Mets in exchange for a player to be named later (first baseman/outfielder Luis De La Cruz)
- Sent third baseman Tyler Nevin to the Tigers for cash considerations
- Acquired first baseman Ryan O’Hearn from the Royals for cash considerations
- Acquired pitcher Darwinzon Hernandez from the Red Sox for cash considerations
- Acquired pitchers Cole Irvin and Kyle Virbitsky from the Athletics in exchange for shortstop Darell Hernaiz
Expectations for 2023
The projections aren’t quite as bullish on Baltimore repeating what they did in 2022, with FanGraphs predicting a 77-85 mark while PECOTA sits at 74 wins.