Checking on former Orioles who are free agents

As of Sunday night, there are 107 major league free-agent relief pitchers, according to MLB.com’s list. It seems possible that the Orioles will sign one or two more from that list, which includes 14 who have played for the Orioles.

Some of the names are recognizable: Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto, both traded in July; Craig Kimbrel, who had a good first half of 2024 and a horrible second half; Danny Coulombe, whose $4 million option for 2025 was surprisingly declined by the Orioles.

Others were with the Orioles just briefly in 2025: Jorgé Castillo, Carson Ragsdale and Elvin Rodriguez.

Castillo signed on Sunday night with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.

Still others haven’t been with the Orioles for quite some time, including T.J. McFarland, who last pitched for them in 2016, though he did re-sign with the organization in 2023. McFarland pitched for Triple-A Norfolk and was never added to the major league roster. McFarland, who’s now 36, has  been with four other organizations since he last pitched for the Orioles, including two stints with the Athletics.

Miguel Castro has thrown for six teams since the Orioles traded him in August 2020.

Then there’s Hunter Harvey, who was the Orioles’ No. 1 draft choice in 2013 and suffered through numerous injuries with the team as well as the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals. Harvey threw 10 2/3 scoreless innings for the Royals last season with two stints on the injured list with shoulder and groin injuries.

The other former Orioles on the free-agent list are Shawn Armstrong, Jorge López, who has already circled back to the Orioles for a second stint, Evan Phillips and Jacob Webb.

Phillips is perhaps the most intriguing name on the list. In parts of three seasons with the Orioles, Phillips had a 7.36 ERA but found huge success with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a 2.22 ERA and 45 saves in 201 games over five seasons. After having Tommy John surgery in June, the Dodgers didn’t offer him a contract last month.

While the Orioles are also waiting on Félix Bautista, who had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in August, it might be difficult for them to wait on Phillips, but he is an interesting name with a positive attitude.

Webb, who wasn’t offered a contract by the Orioles for 2025, was non-tendered by Texas after going 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 55 games. Webb, who walked more than four batters per nine innings in his two seasons with the Orioles, cut the walk rate to 2.6 last season while striking out 7.9 batters per nine.

One of the problems with signing veteran relievers is that most don’t have options remaining.

Of the relievers on the 40-man roster, excluding Bautista, who could miss most or all of the 2026 season, Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, Rico Garcia, George Soriano and Colin Selby are out of options. Helsley, who is also without options, is not yet on the 40-man roster because his signing is not yet official.

Yennier Cano and Kade Strowd each have two options remaining. Perhaps one of the reasons the Orioles offered Cano a 2026 contract was because so many others don’t have options.

Less experienced relievers Jose Espada, Yaramil Hiraldo and Grant Wolfram have two options remaining. Chayce McDermott, converted to relief last season, has an option. Two recent additions to the 40-man roster, Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez, have three options.

To maintain flexibility, the Orioles would like to have two or three pitchers with options on the 40-man roster.

Another name that’s come up recently is Ramón Urías, who was non-tendered by Houston. The Orioles don’t have a true utility player on the 40-man roster. Jeremiah Jackson, who does have three options, has played only third base and right field in the majors.

They have Luis Vázquez, who has two options, on a minor league contract, but he hit only .160 in 50 at-bats in 32 games.

Urías was a useful player with the Orioles, but if Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg are all healthy and productive in 2026, there’s not likely to be much playing time for a utility player.

Other former Orioles who are free agents include catchers Gary Sánchez and Jacob Stallings, first basemen Ryan O’Hearn and Justin Turner, second basemen Adam Frazier and José Iglesias, shortstop Jorge Mateo, outfielders Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Austin Slater, designated hitter Eloy Jiménez, and starters Alex Cobb, Nestor Cortes, Zach Eflin, John Means, Wade Miley, Albert Suárez and Tomoyuki Sugano.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.