The Baltimore Orioles have declined Ryan Mountcastle's $7.5 million option, making him a free agent for the first time.
Mountcastle suffered a left foot fracture early in the year, and suffered an oblique strain just as he was getting ready to start a rehab assignment. He played in a total of eight games for the Orioles, but this move was likely coming regardless.
He avoided arbitration last year and agreed to a club option for 2027. However, it was always going to be tough for the Orioles to get him playing time. Pete Alonso is an everyday player, and the Orioles spent big to get him. Mountcastle has not played in the outfield since 2021, so designated hitter and first base were the only real options.
He was solid in 2024, posting a .733 OPS in 124 games. However, in 2025, he had a .653 OPS, and this season he barely played. The Orioles drafted him in the first round of the 2015 Draft, and he spent seven seasons in the big leagues.
At this point, he needs to be healthy to prove he can still be a contributor. He could land a one-year deal with a team looking for some depth at first base or a right-handed bat on the bench.
In seven seasons with the Orioles, he had a .263/.312/.438 slash line with 98 home runs. Now, he will try to revive his career with a new team, in all likelihood.