Bullpen still big area of need for Orioles

The Orioles didn’t make any roster moves or hires yesterday. News didn’t break or leak.

The next important date is Dec. 7, the start of baseball’s Winter Meetings at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. That’s a switch from the Swan and Dolphin hotel that’s hosted in past years.

Mike Elias will bring a shopping list that’s reminiscent of the one he carried to Nashville in 2023. He’s trying to find a couple of starting pitchers, with one of them worthy of high placement in the rotation, and he needs a closer.

The Corbin Burnes trade wasn’t finalized until Feb. 1, about two months after veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel signed a deal that paid $12 million and included a $1 million buyout and $13 million team option for 2025. He was designated for assignment Sept. 18 and released a week later.

Good first half, though.

The 2024 shopping list in Dallas also had starting pitching on it, and the Orioles signed Tomoyuki Sugano to a $13 million deal four days after executives returned home. Charlie Morton signed for $15 million on Jan. 3. The results, shall we say, varied.

Félix Bautista was recovered from Tommy John surgery but he’s on the shelf again, this time after undergoing a procedure to repair his labrum and rotator cuff. Elias is back in the closer market.

Edwin Diaz, Robert Suárez, Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley haven't signed. They're still on the board. 

“We're trying to make an external addition there, so working on that right now,” Elias said last week. “I can't say things with 100 percent certainty, but we're making every effort to make external additions to the bullpen and in particular an experienced ninth-inning guy if we can.”

The most impactful move thus far with the ‘pen was the Nov. 4 trade with the Cubs that brought back Andrew Kittredge, followed by exercising his $9 million option. He’s a primary setup man who can close if needed. That’s a smart deal, especially because the Orioles acquired 18-year-old Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz from the Cubs at the deadline.

Other moves fly lower on the radar.

The Orioles claimed George Soriano on waivers from the Marlins a day later and selected Anthony Nunez’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk on the 6^th to protect him in the Rule 5 draft.

Nunez is a dark horse candidate to make the club out of spring training. The odds can change depending on Elias’ other acquisitions.

Enoli Paredes signed a minor league contract on Nov. 10, and he’s pitched for three major league teams. Elias was the Astros’ scouting director when Paredes signed as an amateur in 2016.

The 6.8 walks per nine innings over 55 games make it harder to focus on the 3.00 ERA.

Richard Guasch also signed a minor league deal on the 14^th. He’s never pitched above the Double-A level and isn’t a candidate to make the Opening Day roster.

The Nov. 18 deadline to protect eligible players for the Rule 5 led to the Orioles selecting right-hander Cameron Foster’s contract. They also signed Jeisson Cabrera to a minor league deal, a right-hander without Triple-A experience.

Albert Suárez was non-tendered, taking away a swingman who made huge contributions in 2024 but suffered shoulder and forearm injuries this year and appeared in only five games.

The Orioles also have signed left-hander Andrew Magno to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Magno, 27, has spent the past seven years in the Tigers’ system after they drafted him in the 15^th round in 2019 out of Ohio State University. He didn’t pitch for an affiliate in 2020 due to the pandemic that forced the cancellation of the minor league season.

Magno spent the past season at Double-A Erie and went 8-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.131 in 42 games (one start). He fits the Orioles profile by averaging 10.7 strikeouts and 0.4 home runs per nine innings but also 5.4 walks.

The previous three seasons included stints with Triple-A Toledo, including 35 relief appearances in 2024, when he posted a 6.62 ERA and 1.828 WHIP in 50 1/3 innings. He’s another long shot to make the club.

The Baltimore Banner first reported the hiring.

Left-hander Dietrich Enns signed a $2.625 million deal on Nov. 3 that includes a club option for 2027. The Orioles held a $3 million option on his previous contract. Rico Garcia signed a split contract on Oct. 30 that pays $900,000 if he’s in the majors.

Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano were tendered contracts. Also on the 40-man are Colin Selby, Kade Strowd, Grant Wolfram, José Espada, Yaramil Hiraldo and Chayce McDermott. McDermott began making the transition from starter to reliever this year and the Orioles probably will continue down that path. Strowd posted a 1.71 ERA in 25 games after being among 10 Orioles to make their major league debut.  

The Orioles might consider Tyler Wells for a bullpen role, but he’ll report to camp as a starter. Cade Povich and Brandon Young also could be considered if they don’t make the rotation and the organization is willing to interrupt their development as starters.