From Last Place to Title Favorite? Why the Orioles Are Suddenly a Legit World Series Threat in 2026

The Baltimore Orioles entered the 2025 season with legitimate expectations of contention. After consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024, the franchise appeared poised to take the next step toward sustained dominance in the American League. Instead, what followed was a year defined by regression, inconsistency, and organizational upheaval.

Baltimore finished the 2025 campaign with a 75–87 record, dead last in the American League East. Despite that record being the strongest among fifth-place teams across MLB, the season was widely viewed as a disappointment — and a wake-up call.

Yet just months later, optimism has returned in a big way. Thanks to an aggressive offseason overhaul, a revamped roster, and renewed faith in their young core, some analysts now believe the Orioles have done more than rebound. In fact, ESPN analyst Eric Karabell has boldly predicted Baltimore will win the World Series in 2026.

So how did a last-place team suddenly become a championship favorite? The answer lies in what went wrong in 2025 — and how decisively the Orioles responded.

What Went Wrong in 2025: A Perfect Storm of Regression

Baltimore’s downfall began almost immediately. The Orioles slipped below .500 early in the season and never found a rhythm capable of sustaining a playoff push.

A major factor was roster attrition. The losses of ace Corbin Burnes and power-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander in the prior offseason proved more damaging than anticipated. Without Burnes anchoring the rotation, the pitching staff struggled to generate consistency, while Santander’s absence left a noticeable void in the middle of the lineup.

Offensively, the Orioles experienced a sharp decline in power production. After ranking second in MLB in home runs the previous season, Baltimore fell to 11th in 2025. Even more alarming: no Orioles player hit more than 17 home runs all year. For a team that once thrived on youthful explosiveness, the offense became predictable and streaky.

The struggles reached a breaking point on May 17, when manager Brandon Hyde was dismissed following a disastrous 15–28 start. Bench coach Tony Mansolino was promoted to interim manager, and while the team played far better down the stretch (a respectable 60–59 record the rest of the way), the early damage was irreversible.

Baltimore was officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 16, ending one of the most frustrating seasons in recent franchise history.

A Front Office That Refused to Stand Still

Rather than viewing 2025 as a setback, the Orioles treated it as a mandate for change.

This offseason, Baltimore’s front office executed one of the most aggressive retooling efforts in baseball, reshaping both the roster and leadership structure.

New Manager, New Direction

The Orioles hired Craig Albernaz as their new manager, signaling a fresh approach built around accountability, experience, and maximizing the talent already in place.

Major Free-Agent Additions

Baltimore wasted no time upgrading key positions:

• Pete Alonso signed a five-year deal to immediately transform the lineup’s power profile.

• Ryan Helsley, one of baseball’s most dominant relievers, was added on a two-year contract to stabilize the bullpen.

• Leody Taveras joined on a one-year deal to strengthen the outfield defense and lineup balance.

• Zach Eflin was re-signed on a one-year contract to provide rotation stability.

Impact Trades

The Orioles also made bold trades to address long-term needs:

• Acquired Shane Baz from the Rays to inject upside into the starting rotation.

• Traded Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels in exchange for Taylor Ward, adding a proven outfielder with on-base skills and power.

• Added reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs to further reinforce late-inning depth.

Baltimore isn’t done either. The club remains strongly linked to free-agent left-hander Ranger Suárez, suggesting another rotation upgrade could still be on the way.

Why Analysts Believe Baltimore Is a Title Contender

On January 2, ESPN’s Eric Karabell delivered one of the boldest predictions of the offseason: the Orioles will win the World Series in 2026.

“The Orioles finished last in the AL East in 2025, but their 75 wins were the most for fifth-place entrants,” Karabell wrote. “Since then, the franchise added a crew of veterans around their young corps, including Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Zach Eflin and closer Ryan Helsley.”

Karabell’s optimism isn’t based solely on roster additions — it hinges on internal growth.

The Young Core Is Still the Foundation

Despite the disappointing record, Baltimore’s future remains bright because of its elite young talent.

• Gunnar Henderson is expected to bounce back to his 2024 All-Star form after an uneven 2025.

• Jackson Holliday, once MLB’s top prospect, is widely projected to take a massive leap forward. Karabell even suggested Holliday could become a legitimate AL All-Star with 30/30 potential.

• Samuel Basallo, one of baseball’s most exciting prospects, is viewed as a potential breakout star who could provide immediate offensive impact.

• Trevor Rogers showed flashes of growth in 2025 and could continue trending upward.

By surrounding this core with experienced veterans, the Orioles have created a roster that blends upside with reliability — a formula that has powered many recent champions.

A Balanced Roster Built for October

What separates the 2026 Orioles from the 2025 version is balance.

They now possess:

• A legitimate middle-of-the-order power threat in Alonso

• Improved outfield depth and defense

• A deeper, more flexible rotation

• A bullpen capable of protecting leads late

Equally important, Baltimore has shown it is no longer content with simply “developing talent.” The front office is clearly in win-now mode.

Final Thoughts: From Rebuild to Reality

The Orioles’ last-place finish in 2025 may still be fresh in fans’ minds, but the organization’s response has completely reshaped the narrative.

Baltimore didn’t just patch holes — it rebuilt with purpose. With a strengthened roster, renewed leadership, and one of the best young cores in baseball, the Orioles are no longer a sleeper team.

If even a few of their projections hit — Henderson’s rebound, Holliday’s breakout, Basallo’s emergence — Baltimore’s World Series dreams may not be as far-fetched as they once seemed.

As Eric Karabell put it, the Orioles aren’t messing around. And in 2026, the rest of the league may be forced to take them very seriously.