Orioles' biggest success story this year is all about Pete Alonso

The Baltimore Orioles have been a disappointment this season. Considering the potential this team had coming into the year, there's no other way around it.

With their MLB postseason odds slipping away, it's hard to view the 2026 Orioles season positively. But there is one major success story worth getting excited about.

Pete Alonso, the big free-agent pickup this offseason, has been a massive upgrade for the Orioles. ESPN's Bradford Doolittle called him the Orioles' biggest success this season. But it's not just about Alonso helping in 2026; it's about how they're set up for the future.

Why Pete Alonso's success story trumps any negative 2026 Orioles buzz

"Inking Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million free-agent contract was a bold move for the Orioles," Doolittle writes. "Alonso's first season in Baltimore has been an unqualified success, simply because the Polar Bear keeps putting up the same numbers he always has."

While there was some worry about spending $155 million on Alonso, who the New York Mets were letting walk, the Orioles have come out looking like geniuses.

Alonso has 4.1 bWAR this season with 35 homers, a .268 average, and 151 hits with 100 RBIs, the most in the AL. His .859 OPS is also right in line with his career norms, which is a good sign after moving to a new team and city after seven years with the Mets.

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Alonso has been a resounding success for the Orioles. While the 2026 season as a whole has been disappointing, knowing they have Alonso locked up for the next four years makes up for the disappointing season.

While there are plenty of other players who need to perform better, if nothing else, the Orioles now have one of the best right-handed power hitters in MLB, and locked into a long-term deal as well.

This hasn't been an ideal year for the Orioles, but at the very least, Alonso has more than proven he's a resoundingly successful free agent signing.

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