These three longtime Orioles may be running out of chances in Baltimore
Since the Baltimore Orioles turned the corner in 2022 and produced back-to-back-to-back winning seasons, it has become easier to forget about the dark times from 2018 to 2021, where the Orioles were a virtual lock for 100 losses and one of the laughingstocks of the league.
While the Orioles have moved on from most of their players from the dark ages, a handful still remain, including Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, and Jorge Mateo.
All three players figure to begin the 2025 season on the Orioles’ roster, pending health. But for all three, it’s possible that 2025 is their final season in orange and black.
1. Ryan Mountcastle
Ryan Mountcastle’s career has followed an interesting trajectory since he debuted with the O’s during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
His WAR has improved every season, largely in part to his strong defense at first base. In 2021, Mountcastle was worth only 0.9 WAR, while this past season in 2024, he was worth a career high 2.6 WAR. Mountcastle also posted his highest home run (33) and RBI (85) numbers in 2021, while his home run and RBI numbers in 2024 were the lowest of his career. Go figure.
Granted, Mountcastle’s decline in the power department is at least partially due to the Orioles’ decision to move the left field fence back at Camden Yards before the 2022 season.
This offseason, the Orioles admitted that the 2022 move was an “over-correction” and the fence is coming back in.
With another year as the Orioles’ likely everyday first baseman, Mountcastle must use 2025 to show whether he can be a consistent power bat and fixture at first for the Orioles moving forward. So will the real Ryan Mountcastle please stand up?
2. Cedric Mullins
With Anthony Santander likely to depart via free agency, Cedric Mullins is currently the longest-tenured Oriole.
Since his debut in 2018 alongside legend Adam Jones, Mullins has given up switch hitting, been an All-Star, recorded a 30-30 season, and made some dazzling catches.
Since his incredible 2021, however, his production has dropped, so much so in 2024 that he seemingly lost his center field job to Colton Cowser mid-season. Although Mullins finished the season strong, he is entering his final season of arbitration and the Orioles have drafted his heir apparent in Enrique Bradfield Jr.
While center field appears to belong to Mullins to start the season, any struggles from Mullins or hot streak from Bradfield in the minors could spell the end of Mullins’ tremendous tenure roaming center field in Baltimore.
3. Jorge Mateo
When the Orioles claimed Jorge Mateo off waivers from the San Diego Padres, some envisioned Mateo taking over as the shortstop of the future. In his three full seasons in Baltimore, Mateo has flashed that potential in spurts, including a white-hot April 2023 where he hit six of his seven home runs and was among the league leaders in stolen bases.
But Mateo’s downside was also never clearer than in 2023, where he hit only one more home run that year (an inside-the-park home run in Oakland) Mateo got off to another hot start in 2024 before cooling off and eventually suffering a season-ending injury on July 23 in Toronto.
The Orioles may be running out of room to keep Jorge Mateo around
Although Mateo’s availability to start the 2025 season is unclear, he is likely to get another shot at a super-utility role this season, as evidenced by him playing some center field last year.
However, the Orioles have a crowd of position players, including Coby Mayo, Emmanuel Rivera, Ramon Urias, Daz Cameron, and Jordyn Adams, among others, vying for bench at-bats, and it is unclear how much longer Mateo can cling to a spot.
Despite coming in as a toolsy potential star and holding his own as a utility player for the last few seasons, Mateo’s days in Baltimore appear numbered.
