With Basallo extended, could Gunnar be next on O's list?

BALTIMORE -- As much as Samuel Basallo’s eight-year, $67 million extension with the Orioles was a monumental moment in this era for the franchise -- representing the longest financial commitment made by Mike Elias since he became general manager in November 2018 -- it also felt like a possible first step of a series of similar moves to come.

Baltimore’s roster is filled with prime candidates for long-term deals -- all of whom were in the room for the press conference celebrating Basallo on Saturday afternoon at Camden Yards.

Maybe Gunnar Henderson could be next?

“I mean, if they bring it there, then I’ll definitely look at it with my team and be happy to look over it,” Henderson said.

Although Henderson would not disclose whether any such talks have happened between himself and the O’s in recent years, the 24-year-old star shortstop discussed what he’s looking for in a long-term home. The 2019 second-round Draft pick is entering his first year of arbitration this upcoming offseason and is under contract through the end of the 2028 season.

“For myself speaking, obviously, I want to be in a winning culture. That’s the No. 1 thing for me, is being on winning teams,” Henderson said. “That’s probably one of the biggest things for me, honestly, because I love winning. I hate to lose, honestly, more than I like to win. Losing is something that doesn't sit well with me. I just want to be in a place where I win.”

The Orioles are struggling this year (59-69 entering Saturday), but they reached the postseason in each of Henderson’s first two full seasons, winning the American League East in 2023, then securing an AL Wild Card berth in ‘24. There’s also reason to believe they can return to contention in ‘26, considering the amount of talent in their young core.

That core is now guaranteed to have Basallo through the end of 2033 (and potentially ‘34, if Baltimore picks up its team option for that season).

“I’m super happy for him. I know he’s going to be able to take care of him and his family, and that’s the most important thing is being able to give them security,” Henderson said. “I’m just super happy for him.”

Henderson wasn’t surprised about the timing of Basallo’s extension. The Orioles’ new David Rubenstein-led ownership group -- which purchased the team prior to the 2024 season -- has expressed a desire to retain homegrown stars, and Elias has stated similar sentiments.

In that way, Basallo’s deal could certainly be the starting point of securing more of the core.

“It felt like it was only a matter of time before they started investing into guys,” Henderson said. “He’s an incredibly talented player and super deserving of it.”

While Basallo (Baltimore’s No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall) has the potential to become a centerpiece for the organization, Henderson has already been in that role. He was the AL Rookie of the Year and a Silver Slugger in 2023, then became a first-time All-Star in ‘24, when he recorded 9.1 bWAR and finished fourth in AL MVP voting.

This year, Henderson’s production has dipped a bit. But he’s still having a strong season, slashing .281/.352/.466 with 29 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs and 57 RBIs. His defensive skills at shortstop have also improved, going from 25 errors last year to seven so far in 2025.

Whether a potential extension for Henderson -- or other young stars -- is imminent or not, Elias again made it clear it’s a priority, though something he prefers not to discuss publicly while working on such talks in the background.

“To explore these types of contracts -- either with our own homegrown players or with free agents -- this is all on the table thanks to this [ownership] group,” Elias said. “We will continue to try to make shrewd investments and run the franchise responsibly, but we want to win. We want to win in Baltimore and in the AL East, and we know that requires the whole spectrum of investments, moves that you make as an organization, and we hope we’re just getting started.”