Addition of Alonso produces memorable Winter Meetings for Orioles

ORLANDO–Now, it’s on to the pitching. The Orioles’ pursuit of a big bat and big news from the Winter Meetings was successful with their agreement on a five-year, $155 million contract with slugger Pete Alonso.

The move gives the Orioles one of the top sluggers in baseball and an everyday first baseman.

With Alonso joining the newly acquired Taylor Ward, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, the Orioles could have an awesome top five hitters in their order. Add a healthy and productive Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman, and the lineup becomes even deeper.

The Orioles were riddled with injuries last season. Only Holliday avoided the injured list. Alonso played all 162 games for the New York Mets in both 2024 and 2025.

That creates a logjam at first base with both Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle possibly available in trades, and on Tuesday night came a report by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the Orioles were targeting Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera.

At 27, Cabrera would fit nicely with Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, and the Orioles might add multiple starters not just one.

It’s also a big win for Oriole fans who’ve been clamoring for a major move. While the total dollar amount of the contract falls short of the seven-year, $161 million contract the team signed with Chris Davis in January 2016, the average annual value of the contract is the highest in team history, $31 million annually.

The deal was by far the biggest move the Orioles have pulled off in a Winter Meetings. In 2003, they snagged shortstop Miguel Tejada with a six-year, $72 million contract. That deal would be worth $125.6 million in today’s dollars.

Last season, the Orioles hit 191 home runs, but no player hit more than 17. With the additions of Alonso and Ward, the Orioles could threaten their club record 257 home runs hit in 1996.

The offense should be fine, assuming there are fewer injuries next season.

President of baseball operations Mike Elias can concentrate on shoring up starting pitching. Ranger Suárez, who, like Alonso, is represented by Scott Boras, is still on the market. So is Framber Valdez.

Elias, who hadn’t handed out a contract to a free agent larger than Tyler O’Neill’s three years and $49.5 million, has shown he’ll step up when needed.

His biggest pitching free-agent signing was closer Ryan Helsley just before the Winter Meetings. Helsley signed for two years and $48 million with an opt-out after 2026.

Clearly, a starter’s contract will be worth many times that, and conceivably equal Alonso’s.

Toronto signed Dylan Cease for seven years and $210 million, and MLBTradeRumors estimated that Valdez could fetch five years for $150  million.

After two consecutive postseason appearances, the Orioles record fell off badly in 2025, and so did attendance. Camden Yards crowds were down 21 percent, and it was clear that Elias needed to make big moves.

So far, Elias has acquired Ward in a trade for starter Grayson Rodriguez, and Helsey and Alonso as free agents. He also brought back reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs after he traded him to the Cubs last July.

After firing Brandon Hyde 43 games into the 2025 season, the Orioles finished 75-87, their first losing season since 2021.

They decided not to retain interim manager Tony Mansolino and instead hired Craig Albernaz, who’s made an excellent first impression.

The players Elias has added each have good clubhouse reputations. Alonso was an active participant in his family’s foundation, focusing on children, animals and veterans.

The Orioles have been fortunate to have some excellent community citizens over the years. Davis, Adam Jones, who was at the Winter Meetings, and Trey Mancini were particularly visible in the community, and it’s great that Alonso brings that visibility with him from New York.

Alonso has played only 10 games in Baltimore, but he’s hit five home runs, so that’s a start.

Spring training isn’t for another two months, and more work is needed on additional starting pitching as well as more relievers. This Winter Meetings will be remembered by Oriole fans for its action—and not its talk.

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