Orioles assigned 12-to-1 odds to win 2025 World Series; Free agency begins

As soon as the 2024 World Series ended, odds were set on the favorites to win next year’s Series. Despite winning 10 fewer games and failing to advance past the Wild Card Series round, the Orioles were assigned 12-to-1 odds to win next year’s World Series.

That’s tied with the Houston Astros for the fourth-best odds, and is an improvement from a year ago, when they were 16-to-1, which was tied for seventh.

According to BetOnline.ag, the Los Angeles Dodgers (13-to-4), New York Yankees (15-to-2) and Atlanta Braves (8-to-1) have the best odds followed by the Orioles and Astros. A year ago, the Braves, were the 7-to-1 favorites.

I’m not a gambler and have never placed a “prop bet,” but my guess is that the Orioles’ young core of players impresses the oddsmakers. Combine that with a forecast that the Orioles will be players in the free-agent market, and perhaps that’s why they’re rated ahead of a number of other 2024 postseason teams (Philadelphia and San Diego, both 14-to-1), New York Mets (20-to-1), Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City (each 33-to-1).

The Dodgers, who won an enthralling five-game World Series from the Yankees, were the oldest team in the major leagues in 2024, with an average age of 30.3.

The Orioles were the sixth-youngest at 26.6 in 2024. In 2023, they were older with an average age of 27.2

No team as young as the Orioles were this season has won the World Series since the New York Mets with an average age of 26.0 in 1969.

Roster movement

The day after the World Series ends is the beginning of free agency. While the Orioles’ top starter, Corbin Burnes, top home run hitter, outfielder Anthony Santander, catcher James McCann, left-handed starter John Means and outfielder Austin Slater were all known free agents, there were three additional free agents.

Relievers Brooks Kriske, who was acquired from Cincinnati off waivers in late August ,and Burch Smith, who ended the season on the injured list with a adductor/groin strain, and outfielder Daniel Johnson all became free agents.

Kriske was never recalled from Triple-A Norfolk while Smith and Johnson refused outright assignments to Norfolk and elected free agency.

Smith was 2-1 with 5.74 ERA in 25 games. He began his time with the Orioles well, with four scoreless outings in July, but in his next-to-last, he allowed four runs on four hits on September 9^th at Boston, retiring just two batters.

Johnson played just one game, on September 21^st, had a hitless at-bat and scored in a run  in his first major league action since 2021.

The Orioles acquired outfielder Daz Cameron from Oakland for cash considerations. Cameron spent 2023 with Triple-A Norfolk and was never recalled from the Tides.

The right-handed hitter, played 66 games with the Athletics, hitting .200 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.

The moves leave 33 players on the Orioles’ 40-man roster.

What’s next? The Orioles must move starters Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, closer Félix Bautista and infielder Jorge Mateo from the 60-day injured list to the 40-man roster. Though Bradish and Wells could be headed back to the 60-day IL next spring, they must be placed on the 40-man for now. ‘

The Orioles have five days to decide on whether to exercise 2025 options on left-handed relievers Danny Coulombe ($4 million) and Cionel Pérez ($2.2 million), right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez, first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn ($7.5 million) and DH Eloy Jiménez ($16 million).

They’ll decline Jiménez’s option and make decisions on the rest.

The Orioles have five days to negotiate with their own free agents and will decide whether they’d like to issue a $21.05 qualifying offer to any. Burnes and Santander are expected to receive the offers. They have until November 19^th to make a decision.

November 19^th is also the date the Orioles must add minor league players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, which will be held on December 11^th at the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

The Orioles also must tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by November 22^nd.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.