The Orioles still want to bolster their rotation after signing Pete Alonso. But Framber Valdez may not be the pitcher Baltimore adds.

ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported Wednesday that Alonso had signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles following seven seasons with the Mets. Since he made MLB debut with the Mets in 2019, no player has batted in more runs than Alonso (712 career RBI).

Pete Alonso has his risks, but the Orioles’ new first baseman is still a safer bet than Chris Davis was in 2016 — and worth it anyway.

Baltimore Orioles fans erupt after the official Pete Alonso announcement, flooding social media with disbelief and celebration.

Former New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso appears to be a popular target at the winter meetings. But of all the teams interested in him, the Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox have emerged as favorites to sign the first baseman, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Entering the winter meetings, the Orioles’ 2026 payroll is a projected $113 million to rank 18th in MLB, according to Cot’s. The combined yearly salary for a front-of-the-rotation starter and a middle-of-the-order bat would be approximately $50 million — almost exactly the difference between the current payroll and the 2025 total.

The Orioles were the first team to level up their Kyle Schwarber offer, which the Phillies matched to land the DH.

Orioles gain momentum in the race for Ranger Suarez as Astros stay interested, and the Phillies’ stance remains uncertain.