3 Orioles players who definitely won't be back in 2025

The Orioles struggled throughout the 2024 season, dealing with countless injuries and poor performances while managing to secure the top Wild Card spot in the AL. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be, as the O's were defeated by the Royals, scoring just one run in their two playoff games.

While some of these injured players will return in 2025, some difficult decisions will need to be made in the next few months. Between players leaving in free agency, undrafted prospects, and the trade market, next year's team is sure to look a lot different than the current one.

Here are three players from the Orioles' 2024 roster that we won't see in an Orioles jersey next year.

The Orioles can't afford to bring back Eloy Jimenez

Throughout his career, Eloy Jimenez has been a solid hitter. He wasn't a star, but he has a career line of .269/.318/.462, good for a wRC+ of 112 (12% above league average). The problem with Jimenez wasn't his performance, but his availability.

In six seasons, Jimenez has averaged just 89 games per season. The 27-year-old played a full year in the shortened 2020 season, but in normal years Jimenez has only exceeded the 100 game mark twice.

2024 was Jimenez's worst year yet. After he struggled badly with the White Sox, the Orioles acquired him at minimal cost. He played well in Baltimore for a short time, but eventually fell off enough that the O's optioned him to the minors.

The biggest factor that will push him to hit free agency is that he has a $16.5 million team option for 2025. There's little chance the Orioles will go for this deal considering how poorly he's played this year. The O's have enough talent and depth in the supporting cast to replace Jimenez's production, and at a fraction of the cost.

Seranthony Dominguez's expensive club option will prevent a return to Baltimore

After being acquired at the trade deadline, Seranthony Dominguez served as the Orioles' closer as there was no one in Baltimore capable of filling the role. Dominguez had a few moments with the Orioles, but overall he was unreliable.

Overall, Dominguez posted a 4.45 ERA in 2024. In Baltimore, that number was slightly lower at 3.97, but he also posted a 5.33 FIP during his time with the Birds. Dominguez's nearly 30% strikeout rate was one of the few things that carried him this year. Aside from that, he allowed too many baserunners and walked almost 10% of batters.

To make matters worse, Dominguez has an $8 million club option for 2025. That's just too much money for a guy who has had one good season in the last five tries. Dominguez has a $500,000 buyout coming up, and we should expect the Orioles to take advantage of it this winter.

Don't expect the Orioles to spend tons of money on Corbin Burnes

This is not a commentary on whether the Orioles should re-sign Corbin Burnes, nor is it a commentary on whether or not Burnes might be willing to return to Baltimore. There's simply no chance the Orioles will pay the price to keep him.

Burnes struggled in August but was otherwise completely dominant, steamrolling through September and posting one of his best starts of the year in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against Kansas City.

All told, Burnes finished the year with a 2.92 ERA in 194.1 innings. He has now posted an ERA below 3.00 in four of the last five years and will almost certainly demand a huge payday this winter.

The likelihood of the Orioles spending as much money as Burnes is looking for is slim. Even if Burnes wants to come back, the chance of the two sides reaching an agreement is very slim.