3 Baltimore Orioles Who Won't Be Back in 2025

The Baltimore Orioles looked like one of the top teams in the American League once again. Their 91 wins, though down from last year's 101, left them with the 3rd best record in the AL. But a quick two-game sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals left the O's on the outside looking in once again.

They've still got a loaded roster of extremely impressive young talent, but they'll need to make some changes this offseason.

Let's have a look at three players that, in all likelihood, won't be back in 2025 with Baltimore.

Corbin Burnes

This one will hurt. The former Cy Young winner was as advertised this season after the Orioles acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers. But he's entering free agency, and after another tremendous season, winning a career-high 15 games with a 2.92 ERA, he will be in line for a massive contract—various estimates have him getting offers anywhere from $200 million to $300 million on a long-term deal. The chances of the Orioles ponying up a contract like that are slim, if we go by past history.

"The Orioles rarely go top-market to sign guys," said Anthony DiComo of mlb.com recently. "The O's haven't signed a single free agent to a multi-year deal since Mike Elias became general manager in November 2018," said O's beat writer Jake Rill. "If they're going to bring back Burnes, that will obviously have to change, because Burnes is going to land a big multi-year deal from some team -- and unless there's a substantial shift in mindset, that isn't going to be the Orioles."

Eloy Jimenez

With a $16.5 million team option for 2025, and having already been optioned to the minors by the Orioles after the worst year of his career, there's very little chance that Jimenez will be back. He slashed .232/.270/.316 with 1 home run and 7 RBI in 33 games with Baltimore, and the team is bursting with outfield prospects and young major leaguers who need more at-bats.

Austin Slater

Again, with so much talent in the minors, there's no reason whatsoever for the Orioles to bring back an almost 32-year-old who simply doesn't impact the lineup very much. In his 33 games this season in Baltimore, he posted a .675 OPS with one homer.