Orioles fans have learned to approach good news carefully.
For decades under the Angelos family’s ownership, following this team required a certain restraint. Enjoy the wins and appreciate the progress. Just don’t assume it would last without certain conditions and financial restrictions.
That level of caution became part of the fan base’s muscle memory.
But this news-filled offseason has made one thing increasingly clear: This is an exciting time to be a baseball fan in Baltimore, and it’s finally safe to embrace the new era led by David Rubenstein.
For the second time in as many months, the Orioles crushed another introductory news conference Friday, when it welcomed $155 million slugger Pete Alonso. The significance of the evening, though, extended beyond the pageantry of another important introduction.
Rubenstein, 76, who has already reshaped how the Orioles talk about spending, made it clear that this significant moment in franchise history was not an exception.
“So as long as the baseball rules are what they are today, we can do what we want to do,” Rubenstein said. “We’re prepared to do what we need to do to get the team to be on a championship level. We’re ready to go.”
What a time.
For a fan base conditioned under the Angelos family’s frugal spending, the Rubenstein-led ownership group has flipped that framework entirely.
Alonso’s five-year, $155 million contract is the second largest free agent commitment in franchise history. Before Rubenstein purchased the Orioles to become the club’s fifth owner, president of baseball operations Mike Elias had never signed a free agent to a multiyear contract. Since the ownership change, Elias has done so in back-to-back offseasons, first with outfielder Tyler O’Neill (three years, $49.5 million), then closer Ryan Helsley (two years, $28 million), and now Alonso.
When the Orioles signed Alonso last week, I immediately sought my keyboard and the first words in my reaction column were: “Rejoice, Orioles fans. This isn’t winter business as usual for Mike Elias. This is what you’ve been waiting for. This is a declaration of a new era across Birdland. … Welcome to Baltimore, Pete Alonso. Welcome to a new era.”
On Friday, Elias used the same language himself.
“I think we have a whole new era in front of us,” Elias said, crediting the ownership group for transforming not just payroll flexibility, but the entire operation.
Alonso, notably, didn’t bring up money when asked about his decision to leave the New York Mets for Baltimore in free agency. His annual average salary of $31 million is the richest for a first baseman in MLB history.
“The biggest thing is how [the Orioles] see the game and how they see the future moving forward,” Alonso said. “It was the entire blueprint. Their passion for winning and their vision. They told me, ‘This is where we see you and how we’re going to get there. You’re going to be a big part in winning a championship here.’”
How refreshing.
Free agent signees often say flattering things all the time across the league. Alonso focused instead on structure under his new manager Craig Albernaz, on being shown by Elias and Albernaz on how the Orioles plan to win and on the culture he expects to walk into every day.
By my count, Elias is batting 4-for-4 this offseason. Since the season concluded, he reacquired reliever Andrew Kittredge, traded Grayson Rodriguez in a one-for-one swap for slugger Taylor Ward and signed Helsley and Alonso.
And it sure sounds like the Orioles aren’t done.
“We have resources to do other deals, as well,” Rubenstein said. “We don’t have any particular constraints. We don’t have any particular limit that we imposed on [Elias].”
For a majority of his first seven years, Elias operated within real constraints. Now, the environment has changed. Elias, finally, can freely operate in negotiating with and scouting external talent, all while boasting his experience of working under his means.
Thank you, Mr. Rubenstein.
Elias already acknowledged before the Orioles signed Alonso that the club has financial space for at least two splashes in free agency. Baltimore also has a plethora of prospect capital to use in a potential trade.
Up next on his to-do list: Acquire starting pitching.
The Orioles’ starting rotation played a large role in the club’s misfortunes and finished the 2025 season tied for last in the league in average fastball velocity at 92.0 mph. Elias didn’t sugarcoat the challenge of adding a top-of-rotation starter.
“In today’s game, with all the injuries going on, it’s really hard to throw really, really hard for six, seven innings,” he said at winter meetings. “The number of guys that can do that well is not huge, so they’re hard to get your hands on, and we’re trying.”
Elias is trying — with an owner who has removed the familiar barriers.
None of this guarantees a World Series title, of course. But it does change the terms of engagement between the club and its fans. Rubenstein touted his financial power after acquiring the club in 2024, but this offseason, his second as the club’s controlling owner, represents real action behind those influential words.
Do your best to enjoy this type of refreshing ambition, Birdland. After years of patience, you can now allow yourself to really believe this is what a contender is supposed to look like. Yes, there’s plenty of work left to accomplish, but a real sense of framework is in place and how Elias has maneuvered this offseason should provide optimism.
After years of waiting, that alone is worth embracing.
Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at [email protected], 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.