Just because you are an Orioles fan does not mean that you are a Ravens fan, but it is fair to say that the two fan bases overlap quite a bit. After all, they are the only two major sports teams in the city. The organizations often support one another. Their stadiums are right next to one another. And they even share a parking lot. So it is worth noting that both organizations are existing in a similar moment.<\/p>\n
The Orioles had back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. They have a talented homegrown roster led by MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson and a front office that, while not perfect, had done a masterful job of modernizing the organization and making them relevant again. It seemed like a continued ascension was almost a guarantee.<\/p>\n
The Ravens are viewed as one of the NFL\u2019s \u201cmodel\u201d franchises. They are led by a savvy front office. They make the playoffs with regularity. And they have a two-time MVP winner at the helm in quarterback Lamar Jackson. Each season has its ups and downs, but it always feels like they are in the mix for a championship.<\/p>\n
Disappointing 2025 seasons have changed the plans for both of them.<\/p>\n
The Orioles stumbled out of the gate. Henderson began the year on the IL. The team lost a lot of games and fell to the bottom of the AL East, a hole from which they never recovered. In May, they fired their longtime manager Brandon Hyde. This offseason, they have remade their coaching staff and taken a more aggressive posture towards free agency and the trade market.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the Ravens were horrendous to begin their season. They lost big games and Jackson missed time with injury. Credit them for bouncing back to the point that they still had a chance to win their division on the final snap of the season. But it felt ludicrous that such a talented bunch had to scratch and claw for that opportunity. On Tuesday, it was announced that the team had parted ways with their longtime head coach, John Harbaugh.<\/p>\n
Both Baltimore clubs will now enter 2026 with fresh perspectives. Craig Albernaz comes to the Orioles from a Guardians organization well respected for its ability to make more with less. It remains to be seen where the Ravens turn. Oddly enough, another former Cleveland coach, Kevin Stefanski, seems to at least be a potential candidate.<\/p>\n
Who knows if these changes in leadership will yield anything of note for either Baltimore club. The teams might get worse. Or maybe they bounce back to competitiveness. But it seems clear that both changes had to happen. The understanding from each organization to actually pull the trigger on a transition is worthy of applause.<\/p>\n
The Orioles have checked multiple boxes this winter. Is another large splash possible? | The Baltimore Banner<\/a> Looking at Eric Torres signing and more roster questions | Roch Kubatko<\/a>
The Orioles could absolutely use another starting pitcher. And let\u2019s not forget that they don\u2019t exactly have an everyday center fielder that you feel entirely confident in. So far, however, the Orioles and the options on the market have not lined up in terms of contact expectations. Will that change? Might they opt for a trade? Or will they get the season started and see how things go for a few months before making a move? It all seems to be on the table.<\/p>\n
Roch alludes to the unlikelihood that the Orioles carry all of Pete Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle, and Coby Mayo into the 2026 season. Obviously, Alonso is the starter at first base and will be for the foreseeable future. Mayo sticks out as a player that could be worth quite a bit in a trade. The Orioles could just be waiting for the right deal to present itself.<\/p>\n