The Baltimore Orioles may soon be headed for a notable split.
Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson is not expected to re-sign with the team on a new contract, Buster Olney of ESPN reported on Thursday. Olney adds that Henderson, who is represented by Scott Boras, will be moving on “in all likelihood.”
Henderson, still only 25 years old, was originally a second-round draft pick by the Orioles in 2019 (No. 42 overall). He got called up to the big leagues in 2022, proceeding to win AL Rookie of the Year and a Silver Slugger Award in 2023 before being named an American League All-Star in 2024.
But the lefty-hitting Henderson has been having a down year so far in 2026. Though Henderson has managed to produce 18 homers and 47 RBIs, he has done so on an unsightly .219 batting average and .688 OPS (both career-low tallies).
That being said, the Orioles do not have much to worry about for the time being since Henderson is still under club control through 2028. But if Henderson is set on leaving Baltimore once he becomes a free agent, the team would obviously be wise to flip Henderson for a return before then.
The Orioles are fourth in the AL East this year at 56-59 (though that only has them one game out of a Wild Card spot). But Baltimore already stunningly traded away another key member of their young core at the deadline, and now they may be planning their exit strategy with Henderson as well.
