The Orioles ran out the same three outfielders each Opening Day between 2021 and 24: , , and . And in each year from 2020-23, Mullins, Santander, and Hays were Baltimores three primary outfielders. This past season, however, broke out with a phenomenal rookie campaign, cementing his position in the outfield at Camden Yards for years to come. Facing a logjam in the lineup, the Orioles dealt Hays to the Phillies ahead of the trade deadline, officially splitting up the Mullins/Santander/Hays triumvirate. Santander could be next to leave; after the conclusion of the World Series, he will become a free agent. Thus, for the first time in a long time, the Orioles outfield could look quite different on Opening Day 2025. There is no doubt that Cowser will have a job in the Orioles outfield next season. Not only did he hit 24 home runs with a 120 wRC+ in 2024, but he did so while playing strong defense. The 24-year-old compiled 11 OAA and 3 DRS over 809 2/3 innings in left field, 310 innings in center, and 73 innings in right. He made just one error all year. Cowser is under team control through at least the 2029 season, and he will not be eligible for arbitration until at least 2027. Mullins should be a lock for the 2025 outfield as well, although the Orioles will have to tender him a contract as he enters his final year of arbitration eligibility. estimates Mullins would earn approximately $8.7MM next year, a $2.375MM raise from his $6.325MM salary this season. Thats a bargain for a player like Mullins, even with his 2021 All-Star campaign getting smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. He has been roughly league-average at the plate over the past two seasons (102 wRC+) while providing plenty of value on the bases (51-for-60 in stolen base attempts) and playing a premium defensive position. Different metrics disagree about his talents in center field, but ultimately, the versions of WAR at both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference agree he has been a valuable contributor. From 2023-24, Mullins compiled 4.2 fWAR and 5.3 bWAR. Theres a chance the Orioles would consider moving Mullins to a corner and giving Cowser the center field job; including college and the minors, Cowser has more experience in center field than any other position. Mullins and his league-average bat would be le s valuable in a corner spot, but a $8.7MM salary would still be a team-friendly price for his services. As for the final spot in the outfield, plenty of fans would love to see Santander back next season (and for several more to come), but its unclear how intently the Orioles will pursue the All-Star slugger in free agency. They will surely make him the qualifying offer, and he just as will surely decline. He is likely seeking a multi-year deal worth at least $20MM per season. General manager Mile Elias is hoping to this winter in his first full offseason working under new owner David Rubenstein, but its unclear how much money hell have to work with. More to the point, Elias might prfer to spend the majority of his resources improving a pitching staff that finished 14th in MLB in ERA and 10th in FanGraphs WAR rather than an offense that finished fourth in runs scored and third in wRC+. Santander will be a big lo s for the offense, but ace , another impending free agent, will be an even bigger departure for Elias Tommy Henry Jersey to addre s. With all that said, the Orioles might stick with their internal options to replace Santander in 2025. Baltimore would love for 25-year-old to step up and fill that role. The lefty batter put up ludicrous numbers in the minors this past season, batting .300 with a .998 OPS and 152 wRC+ in 56 games at Triple-A. His big league numbers (.745 OPS, 116 wRC+ in 39 games) werent bad, especially not for a rookie, but some of the underlying metrics suggest hes due for regre sion (.301 xwOBA compared to a .327 wOBA), and his 28.9% strikeout rate was concerningly high for a hitter who wasnt showing off plus power or plate discipline. Moreover, his outfield defense wasnt particularly impre sive in a small sample size (-1 DRS, -1 FRV). Kjerstad has the tools to be a terrific player, but hell to take a step forward at the plate if hes going to provide above-average value as a defensively-limited corner outfielder. Another option to play some corner outfield for the Orioles next year could be , who is currently the teams top prospect according to and . Throughout his brief profe sional career, Mayo has mostly played third base. Aside from his strong arm, however, he has never graded out as a top-notch defender at the hot corner. So, with and already entrenched in the Orioles infield and not going anywhere, Mayos future might need to be somewhere else. He has experience playing first base as well, and that could be his long-term position. But considering his terrific throwing arm, it makes sense that he would give the outfield a try. To that point, Elias recently suggested right field could be an option for the 22-year-old, though he made it clear the organization still views him as an infielder, and primarily a first baseman, going forward (per ). Two more internal options to keep in mind are prospects and Beavers, 23, is the teams No. 5 prospect according to , No. 6 according to , and No. 7 according to . He hit well enough at Double-A in 2024 (15 HR, 118 wRC+ in 119 games) to earn a brief promotion to Triple-A at the end of the season. Hes also a plus runner with the potential to be a capable big league center fielder. Bradfield, 22, is a few months younger and a little further away from the majors; he moved up from High-A to Double-A this past August. However, most sources agree he is the slightly more promising prospect. FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline have him at No. 4, while Baseball America has him at No. 6. He boasts 80-grade speed and has the skills to be an elite defensive center fielder. As for his bat, he has little power to speak of, so hell need to prove he can maintain his impre sive bat-to-ball skills against tougher competition. Neither Beavers nor Bradfield needs protection from the Rule 5 draft this offseason, and neither is a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster out of camp. However, their relative proximity to the majors could be a reason why the Orioles avoid signing a free agent outfielder to a multi-year deal. Finally, the Orioles will have to decide whether or not to pick up s $8MM club option for 2025. OHearn is primarily a first baseman and DH, but he played 27 games in the outfield last season. The 31-year-old slashed .264/.334/.427 with 15 home runs and a 119 wRC+ in 2024, good for 1.7 fWAR. If he can repeat that performance next season, an $8MM salary would be more than fair, but with Kjerstad and Mayo in need of playing time, the Orioles might prefer to spend that $8MM elsewhere. Image courtesy of USA Today Sports. Adam Jones Jersey