Reviewing market for Orioles’ free agents

Starting pitcher Trevor Rogers is the most attractive of the Orioles’ free agents and many teams will be interested in the left-hander, who will turn 29 on November 13th. The same can’t be said for the remaining Orioles’ free agents.

While Rogers ranked second on MLBTradeRumors.com’s top 50 free agents and third on FanGraphs, only one other Oriole free agent is ranked on three prominent lists.

Outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who played just three games before injuring his left hamstring, is listed as the 41^st most attractive free agent on FanGraphs’ top 50.

Yes, it’s a weak free-agent market, but they think Robert deserves some consideration.

So does MLBTradeRumors, which believes Robert is the 43^rd best free agent and ESPN.com’s Kiley McDaniel, who ranks Robert 47^th on his top 50.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, who has a list of 40 most attractive free agents, doesn’t list Robert in his group.

Robert was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets on August 31^st. President of baseball operations Mike Elias thought that Robert could replicate a hot August with the New York Mets and help the Orioles’ playoff push.

It turned out that Robert’s Orioles career consisted of 11 at-bats before the hamstring injury, and he finished his seven-year, $70 million contract on the injured list.

The Orioles could have picked up his $20 million option for 2027 or bought out his contract for $2 million. They chose the latter, and he’s now a free agent.

All three sites see Robert getting a one-year contract, ranging from $10.5 million for McDaniel to $14 million by both MLBTradeRumors.com and FanGraphs.

TradeRumors thinks the Padres, Reds or Royals are likely suitors.

Chris Bassitt who signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract as spring training began in February is a free agent again.

Bassitt, who had back surgery and missed more than two months, was 9-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 20 games, 18 starts. After his surgery in June, Bassitt was 5-1 with a 3.74 ERA in eight starts, which could attract some teams.

After his last start of the season, Bassitt, who’ll turn 38 on February 22^nd, indicated he was ambivalent about playing next season, saying that his family would like him at home, but that he still enjoys pitching.

Bassitt is one of eight members of the Major League Players Association Executive Subcommittee and will be heavily involved in this winter’s negotiations for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

If a lockout, which is expected to begin on December 1^st, continues and disrupts the beginning of spring training, that might make it harder for Bassitt to find a suitable team, if he still wants to pitch.

Reliever Andrew Kittredge is a free agent after returning to the Orioles from the Chicago Cubs for the 2026 season. Kittredge signed a one-year, $10 million contract in January 2025 that included a one-year, $9 million contract with a $1 million buyout for 2026.

The Orioles traded Kittredge to the Cubs in July 2025. They purchased his contract last November.

Kittredge, who’ll be 37 next March, was 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA and a team-high 11 saves in 2026 and should find a new home for 2027, but at his age, isn’t likely to be a priority signing.

Right-hander Zach Eflin had his $25 million mutual option declined, and he’s a free agent for the second time in two years. Eflin had Tommy John surgery in April, and might not sign with a team until he’s ready to pitch again.

With transactions likely to be frozen on December 1^st, teams might not be in a rush to sign rehabbing players they can sign after the lockout ends.

That might also hold true for left-handed reliever Keegan Akin, who had Tommy John surgery in July and could miss the entire 2027 season.

First baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle became a free agent on Monday when the Orioles declined his $7.5 million option. He’s likely to be a late signing and might need to settle for a minor league contract.

The same is true for Heston Kjerstad, who was released on Monday. The overall No. 2 pick in 2020 wasn’t claimed by a major league team when he was sent through waivers.

Outfielder Leody Taveras, who played 139 games for the Orioles this season, became an early free agent. Taveras was eligible for arbitration, and the Orioles didn’t want to retain him.

Catcher Yohel Pozo and right-hander pitcher Yosver Zulueta are also free agents.

Note: Outfielders Vance Honeycutt and Ike Irish and right-handed pitchers Braxton Bragg and Patrick Reilly were named to play on the American League team for Sunday’s Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game. The game can seen at 8 p.m. on MLB Network.

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