Trevor Rogers loves the Orioles, but he’s excited to test free agency

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NEW YORK — After what could be Trevor Rogers’ final start for the Orioles, the left-handed pitcher outlined how much Baltimore has meant to his career and acknowledged that he’s looking forward to learning more about his options in free agency.

Rogers, who finished his 30th start of the season with a 4.03 ERA across 169 2/3 innings, will be a free agent this winter. Although he could return to the Orioles should he accept a contract extension or the one-year qualifying offer, he is expected to be one of the most sought-after starters on the market.

Left-hander Tarik Skubal leads the way. But for teams that miss out on the former Detroit Tigers ace who now pitches for the Los Angelos Dodgers following a midseason trade, Rogers is a strong alternative.

It appears unlikely that Rogers will accept the qualifying offer, which was set at just above $22 million for 2026. Should he decline, whichever team winds up signing him would owe the Orioles a draft pick. Spotrac projects that Rogers’ market value is about $32 million per year.

Reaching free agency is a feat few players manage. It requires accumulating six years of major league service time. As such, there is a benefit to understanding what the market holds.

“I earned the right to make it to free agency,” Rogers said. “I’m very happy with [it], and I also get to test the market and see what that says, and that’s kind of the exciting thing about the whole ordeal. I finally get a say about where I want to go. I’ve made it known about this place, how I feel about this place, and we’ll see how the business of baseball shakes out.”

Throughout the season, Rogers has said he would like to pitch in Baltimore for the long haul. But the 28-year-old hasn’t sealed an extension (president of baseball operations Mike Elias didn’t respond when asked Friday if he has approached Rogers).

When asked what he will look for in a team, Rogers listed a few requirements.

“A good, quality organization that focuses on winning, has a lot of really good talent, good coaching staff, solid fanbase,” he said. “That’s some of the things that I look at, as far as what the future holds. It’s going to be fun talking through that with teams. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Orioles acquired Rogers at the 2024 trade deadline, and he pitched in only four games before he was optioned to the minor leagues. But, once he returned early in 2025, he became a dominant starter.

Rogers posted a 1.81 ERA in 18 games last year. He followed that with another strong season.

Now, with the Orioles eliminated and Rogers’ final start behind him, his immediate focus shifts to soaking in the atmosphere around the clubhouse.

“To be honest, I would love to be back here.” Rogers said. “The business side of baseball, you never know. So, as of now, I’m going to enjoy these last couple days with the fellas and really enjoy being with the guys, and then go home and see my dog.”