The Orioles finished 2026 with a disappointing 79-82 record and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. They scored 718 runs on offense but gave up 739 runs to opponents thanks in part to a middling starting rotation. Their middle-of-the-pack defense was another part of that equation, and improving defensively is an area of focus heading into the offseason, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.
Baltimore’s +19 Defensive Runs Saved ranked 16th in the Majors. They tied for 19th with -19 Outs Above Average. Speaking to reporters on Monday, manager Craig Albernaz spoke about the club needing to execute better in the field and suggested he’d been pushing that message during the season. “The defensive play was the biggest driver,” Albernaz told Kubatko and others. “Obviously, there’s emphasis in spring training and obviously there were some ups and downs with that, and as the season went on, I feel like our defense got better as the year progressed.”
The club is pretty set in the infield with Gunnar Henderson at short, Jackson Holliday at the keystone, and Pete Alonso manning first base. Some combination of Blaze Alexander, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Jordan Westburg will handle third base. The latter is coming off of Tommy John surgery in his throwing elbow but is expected to be healthy in Spring Training, per the Orioles’ official injury report. Statcast credited Westburg with 80th-percentile range in 2025, albeit with a weak arm that could play better at second base long-term.
Henderson, Alexander, and Encarnacion-Strand are average to excellent defenders, while Holliday and especially Alonso are not viewed so favorably. Holliday reportedly came up in trade talks around this year’s deadline, but no deal came together, and Albernaz’s comments are in no way suggesting the Orioles would consider moving an infielder solely to improve the defense. His comments come across more generically, implying that Baltimore will simply work on defensive fundamentals with their existing cast come Spring Training.
If there is any spot on the roster for an external defensive upgrade, it’s probably the outfield. The Orioles’ outfielders combined for -9 OAA in 2026, which ranked 22nd in the Majors. To be fair, Colton Cowser was a revelation in center field, earning +10 DRS and +7 OAA in 664 innings. However, the supporting cast around him wasn’t as sharp.
Both DRS (-5) and OAA (-3) viewed Leody Taveras negatively in center. He was passable in right field, but he only had an 80 wRC+ in nearly 500 plate appearances and could be a non-tender candidate. Dylan Beavers didn’t field well at either of the corners. He’s a former top prospect and will get more time to establish himself as a hitter, though the defensive questions remain. If Baltimore wants to bring in outside help, the free agent market for glove-first outfielders includes Daulton Varsho, Tyrone Taylor, and old friend Cedric Mullins. Taylor is coming off a career-best showing at the plate, while Varsho and Mullins are well below average in that regard.
Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images
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