The Orioles headed into this offseason as the toast of the sport. The team was coming off of a 101-win season, they boasted a young core that should keep them competitive for years to come, and even more prospects were on the way. There was plenty to be proud of in the Charm City. At the same time, there were legitimate concerns about the organization’s ability to act like a real deal World Series contender.
That would require them to prioritize winning above all else, splashing money in free agency, trading some portion of their prospect stash, and in turn putting the entire league on notice.