The Orioles didn’t free up as much room in their rotation as anticipated at the deadline.

They also didn’t bring in a starter or reliever who would be assured of a roster spot in 2026, though they considered it. The role of seller comes with certain limits.

“Yeah, we definitely tried for that,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said in Friday’s video call. “It’s a rental reliever, a rental player, and I say, ‘Hey, give me your major-league-ready starting pitcher that’s under control for six years,’ it’s just not a real likely trade to happen in that context. So rather than try to force that and either come away with nothing or come away with a guy that’s not very good, I think the right thing to do is get the most value back for the organization, and so that’s what we did.

“Obviously, we would have loved to do that, but you’ve got to be realistic and there’s just not a lot of major-league-ready starting pitchers being traded by teams that are right there in contention, especially for rental-type returns.”

Charlie Morton was in a late trade to the Tigers, but Elias didn’t move Zach Eflin or Tomoyuki Sugano. Eflin is on the injured list with lower back discomfort, his third trip but nothing that should keep him out for an extended stretch, and Sugano started yesterday and allowed three runs in five innings.

Rookie Brandon Young starts today on regular rest. Cade Povich is reinstated from the injured to start Monday night in Philadelphia, which necessitates a corresponding roster move. Dean Kremer could start Tuesday with an extra day of rest, and Trevor Rogers could follow his eight-inning complete game by taking the ball Wednesday afternoon.

Kyle Bradish has made one start on his rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen and one with Double-A Chesapeake, totaling a combined 5 2/3 innings and allowing only one run with three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. His last outing was Tuesday, which has him ready to take the mound again.

A few more outings and he could be pitching for the Orioles for the first time since June 14, 2024. And much longer since he did so without pain in his elbow.

Tyler Wells retired all six batters he faced with the Baysox on Wednesday in his first start. He’s also expected back later this month, following Bradish and uncertain whether he’ll be in the rotation or bullpen.

A relief role would make things less complicated for the Orioles as they tweak the roster, unless more injuries crop up. The bullpen currently has Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, Yaramil Hiraldo, Corbin Martin, Elvin Rodríguez, Houston Roth, Kade Strowd, Grant Wolfram and Dietrich Enns. One of them will disappear.

Enns is out of options and would have to pass through waivers to get sent down. The Orioles traded for him Thursday, sending cash to the Tigers, and he was activated yesterday.

A bullpen that’s lacked minor league options is much more flexible with Wolfram, Strowd, Roth, Hiraldo and Rodríguez joining Cano. Martin and Akin can’t be demoted without going through waivers.

Akin recorded his fourth career save yesterday after stranding two runners in the ninth inning. Any reliever can be the closer on any given day. 

Félix Bautista is out indefinitely while the Orioles wait for the swelling to go down in his right shoulder and schedule another MRI. Albert Suárez, who made one appearance in the opening series in Toronto and went on the injured list with a right subscapularis strain, has advanced to facing hitters in batting practice and will do it again, per Mansolino in his media scrum, before going on a rehab assignment.

Suárez’s absence this season is one of the most impactful and underrated. He tended to get lost in the IL crowd, but the Orioles really could have used him in multiple roles.

Every return feels too late now, but it’s a reward for persevering through procedures and rehabs, and the Orioles don’t want to get steamrolled after the deadline. 

* The Orioles activated pitcher Kyle Virbitsky off the development squad yesterday and released him.

Virbitsky had a combined 2.49 ERA in 16 relief appearances with Double-A Chesapeake, High-A Aberdeen and the Florida Complex League Orioles. He was acquired from the Athletics with Cole Irvin in 2023 for minor league shortstop Darell Hernaiz.

Left-hander Raul Alcantara and right-hander Robinson Martinez also were released from the Baysox roster.

Right-handers Devin Kirby-Williams, Dominic Freeberger and Reese Sharp were released from Aberdeen’s roster. 

* Infielder Brandon Butterworth, one of the six minor leaguers acquired from the Padres in the Ryan O’Hearn/Ramón Laureano trade, made his Chesapeake debut last night and went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.