Chasing championships in '24: An O's offseason primer

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BALTIMORE -- The Orioles had a remarkable 2023 season that featured 101 wins, their first postseason appearance since '16 and their first American League East championship since '14.

What’s next?

After getting swept by Texas in the AL Division Series, Baltimore heads into the winter aiming to better set itself up for postseason success so that it can compete for a World Series title in 2024. Here’s an FAQ-style primer giving you everything to know about the O’s offseason.

Which players are set to become free agents?
RHP Jack Flaherty, INF Adam Frazier, RHP Shintaro Fujinami, RHP Kyle Gibson and OF Aaron Hicks.

Are any of them likely to receive qualifying offers?
The Orioles are not expected to extend any of their free agents a qualifying offer, which is set at approximately $20.5 million for 2024. If any return to Baltimore, it would likely be on a smaller deal.

Which players have options, and what’s the impact on payroll?
The only O’s player who had a 2024 option was Mychal Givens, but the 33-year-old right-hander was released on Aug. 13. Baltimore must pay the $2 million buyout of the mutual option.

Who might be a non-tender candidate, and when does the club have to make that decision?
With 16 players eligible for arbitration, the Orioles could opt to non-tender several from that group prior to the Nov. 17 deadline. The most likely candidates are right-hander Dillon Tate and left-hander Keegan Akin.

Tate missed the entire 2023 season due to a right elbow injury. Akin had a 6.85 ERA in 24 appearances before missing the final three months with lower back discomfort.

Baltimore could also consider non-tendering infielders Ramón Urías ($2 million) and Jorge Mateo ($2.9 million), as several top infield prospects are on the cusp of the big leagues. But it seems more likely the O’s would move Urías or Mateo (or both) in a trade, should the club decide to part with either.

Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to avoid the Rule 5 Draft, and do they have a crunch for roster spots?
Of the Orioles’ Top 30 prospects (per MLB Pipeline), the only player who must be added to the 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft is outfielder Hudson Haskin (No. 17). A 24-year-old who was selected in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Haskin was limited to 33 games in '23 due to hamstring and hip injuries.

Other prospects Baltimore could consider adding to the 40-man roster include catcher Maverick Handley, outfielder Shayne Fontana and pitchers Jean Pinto, Garrett Stallings and Ryan Watson (the team’s 2022 Minor League Pitcher of the Year).

The Orioles’ 40-man roster is currently full. Five spots will open when their free agents hit the market, but their three players on the 60-day injured list -- Akin, Tate and infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra -- will need to be re-added after the World Series.

What kind of help do they need, and will they be active in free agency?
Baltimore needs a closer for 2024, as All-Star right-hander Félix Bautista is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early October. The top reliever on the free-agent market will be left-hander Josh Hader, a five-time All-Star who was drafted by the O’s in 2012 out of Old Mill High School in Millersville, Md.

It’s unlikely the Orioles will be willing to hand out the type of contract that Hader should land, though. So they might look to add a closer on a more affordable one-year deal.

The O’s could also use an ace for the top of their rotation, but they’re more likely to acquire one via trade rather than in free agency. Among the top trade targets this offseason could be Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber and Brewers righty Corbin Burnes.

Who might they be willing to trade?
In order for Baltimore to upgrade its pitching staff by trade, it will likely have to deal from its glut of position-player prospects. Shortstop Jackson Holliday (No. 1) is untouchable, while outfielders Colton Cowser (No. 2) and Heston Kjerstad (No. 3) are unlikely to be moved. Infielders Coby Mayo (No. 4), Joey Ortiz (No. 6) and Connor Norby (No. 7) could be trade chips.

Anthony Santander might be featured in trade rumors again this winter, as the 29-year-old outfielder will be a free agent after the 2024 season. The Orioles need to make room for Cowser and Kjerstad, but Santander (28 homers, 95 RBIs and a .797 OPS in ‘23) might be deemed too valuable for them to deal.