Orioles Decline Mountcastle Option, Release Kjerstad
Baltimore cleared salary by passing on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle's $7.5 million option and cutting outfielder Heston Kjerstad.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles declined the $7.5 million team option on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, one of their first-round picks from 2015. The club also released outfielder Heston Kjerstad after he cleared outright waivers.
Why it matters
The moves shed salary and clear roster space for the Orioles as they manage their offseason roster. Declining contract options is one way the club reduces payroll obligations heading into the next season.
Mountcastle's $7.5 million option was declined after he hit a career-high 33 home runs in 2021 but played only eight games in 2026 after breaking a bone in his foot. Ryan Helsley opted into his $14 million player option for 2027 after recording eight saves with a 4.11 ERA in 15 1/3 innings.
The players
Ryan Mountcastle
Mountcastle is a first baseman drafted by the Orioles in 2015 who hit a career-high 33 home runs in 2021.
Heston Kjerstad
Kjerstad is an outfielder taken second overall in the 2020 draft whose career has been slowed by myocarditis.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are the Major League Baseball franchise based in Baltimore that play home games at Camden Yards.
The details
Mountcastle, drafted in the first round by the Orioles in 2015, had his option declined in a move to reshape the club's first base and designated hitter mix. Kjerstad, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, was released after clearing outright waivers, a sign his professional path has been slowed by myocarditis.
Timeline
2015: Mountcastle drafted as an Orioles first-round pick.
2020: Kjerstad drafted as the No. 2 overall pick.
2021: Mountcastle hits a career-high 33 home runs.
2022: The left field wall at Camden Yards is moved deeper.
November 2, 2026: Mountcastle's option is declined and Kjerstad is released.
Season Trajectory
The Orioles' decision to decline Mountcastle's option and release Kjerstad reflects a broader pattern of reshaping the roster around the Camden Yards dimensions changed in 2022. Their handling of Helsley, who opted into his $14 million deal, signals how the club is balancing bullpen stability against payroll flexibility.
Mountcastle's departure from the Orioles' options opens a question about first base and designated hitter playing time for fantasy rosters next season. Helsley's $14 million player option for 2027 means his bullpen role carries forward into the coming campaign.
The takeaway
Contract option decisions often signal where a team plans to spend and where it plans to save, and the Orioles' choices this offseason show a club prioritizing payroll flexibility. Readers tracking the roster should watch how the first base and bullpen spots are filled in the months ahead.
Further reading
Explore more Baseball coverage to see how the Orioles' offseason moves fit into the wider league picture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Baltimore Banner.
