As the hopes of an Orioles playoff run dwindle and the last few games of this magical season fall off the calendar, it’s normal for fans to begin thinking about next year. This is a franchise on the upswing with several young pillars of a potential World Series contender in tow and a few others on the way. As fun as 2022 has been, 2023 could be even better.
But time alone won’t be enough for the Orioles to leap from a .500 team to an AL East crown and beyond. Roster changes are on the horizon, and this time they might hurt a little bit.