Troublesome Season for Orioles Sparks Intense Inquisition from Management
Orioles' fans, management, and players alike are laying into each other over the team's abysmal start to the 2025 season. So far, the Birds have lost 32 of their first 47 games, leaving a bad taste in the town of Charm City.
"We've had a frustrating and disappointing season," said Mike Elias, the team's executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations. "It's been nothing if not a Murphy's Law kind of start."
But it isn't just bad luck plaguing the O's. Fans and analysts alike argue that management dropped the ball when it came to offseason spending, leaving the team with a weakened roster. The players payroll increased by $57.5 million, but most of that money was spent on wild cards like journeyman 41-year-old Charlie Morton and Japanese rookie Tomoyuki Sugano. On the contrary, Baltimore only signed one of MLB.com's top 25 free agents, outfielder Tyler O'Neill. Meanwhile, high-profile starting pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Blake Snell, and Jack Flaherty stayed on the market.
Even the one big-name signing, O'Neill, has been a disappointment, with injuries keeping him sidelined and limiting him to just two home runs across 24 games. Morton, the team's third-highest paid player, has a 6.05 ERA to start the season. Average attendance is down 4,908 fans per game at Camden Yards, which now ranks 22nd in Major League Baseball.
The Orioles' poor performance has already cost head coach Brandon Hyde his job. He was replaced on an interim basis by Tony Mansolino, who entered the picture with no MLB managing experience. Given the team's predicament, it's easy to understand the nerves that Mansolino experienced when he took the reigns. But he's remained optimistic, saying, "The players have been great, and I'll just do my best and have confidence in myself."
History isn't on the Orioles' side either. Their ballpark, which opened in 1992, has never hosted a World Series game, and the team's 2025 season looks like it will be adding to an unfortunate streak. Barring a miracle turnaround story, the O's are unlikely to play October ball this year.
Still, some fans refuse to give up hope. "I prefer to look at the positives," second baseman Jordan Westburg said. "It's a long season, and there's a lot that can change between now and then."
But with the tough competition in the AL East, and the team playing in one of the sport's toughest divisions historically, the Orioles are facing steep odds to make it to the playoffs. Their record is 17-30 as of May 23, and FanGraphs gives them a sub-5% chance of making the playoffs. Baseball-Reference has the team's postseason chances at a sub-1%.
The problems for Baltimore go deeper than just the 2025 season. Last season, the Orioles finished with a 91-71 record and a Wild Card berth, but underperformed down the stretch and failed to contend for a division title. The team was believed to need to bolster its rotation at the trade deadline, but instead traded away top prospects to acquire starter Zach Eflin and Marlins starter Trevor Rogers. Rogers posted a 7.11 ERA in four starts for the O's before being sent down to Triple-A.
Now, the Orioles face another trade deadline decision. Their young hitting core—Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, and Westburg—is likely to become more expensive through arbitration and potential extensions in the coming years, so the franchise must balance its roster-building with financial considerations. The team's payroll ranks 15th in MLB this year at $184.3 million, up from $126.8 million in 2024.
Despite the team's struggles, there is some good news for Maryland sports fans. Baltimore's ballpark, Camden Yards, is set to undergo up to $600 million in improvements courtesy of state funds, including new outfield video boards, a ribbon advertising board circling the stadium, and a new press box. Additionally, the team's classic warehouse beyond the right field fence will be renovated, and the entire facility is under evaluation.
In conclusion, the Orioles spring spending and roster moves have impacted their performance this season, but injuries and roster depth challenges on offense have hampered their success. As the team looks to bounce back, they will need to make smart moves at the trade deadline and develop a symbiosis between business and baseball operations to stay competitive in a challenging division.
"The disappointing performance of the Orioles in the 2025 season, specifically in Major League Baseball, can be attributed to questionable offseason spending, as the team signed fewer high-profile players compared to their competitors and spent a significant portion of their budget on less impactful acquisitions like journeyman Charlie Morton and Japanese rookie Tomoyuki Sugano."
"Despite the challenges they face in the competitive AL East division, Orioles fans are maintaining hope for a turnaround, with second baseman Jordan Westburg emphasizing that 'it's a long season, and there's a lot that can change between now and then.'"
