Candidates to add to Orioles’ 40-man roster

Even though an expected December 1^st lockout may preclude a Rule 5 draft, the Orioles still have choices to make as they construct a 40-man roster for the offseason.

Despite the cancellation of the 2021 Rule 5 draft, the Orioles did add six players to the 40-man roster on November 19^{th —} future closer Félix Bautista, starter Kyle Bradish, left-handed reliever DL Hall, right-handed reliever Logan Gillaspie, utility player Terrin Vavra and left-handed pitcher Kevin Smith.

Only Smith, who was acquired from the New York Mets in 2020 for reliever Miguel Castro, never played in the majors.

The Orioles will have space to fill on the 40-man roster this November, and they have some interesting candidates.

They’re also capable of a surprise. Bautista in 2021 was one who worked out. Others — right-hander Noah Denoyer in 2022, left-hander Luis González in 2024 and outfielder Reed Trimble last season — were not forecast.

Trimble, who’s been injury prone and played just 32 games this season, was added because of his speed. He’s stolen 64 bases without being thrown out.

Sure things

Enrique Bradfield Jr.

It was somewhat surprising that Bradfield, the Orioles’ No. 1 draft choice in 2023, wasn’t added to the major league team at some point during the season, but he will be on the 40-man roster in two months.

Bradfield whose progress has been impeded by injuries, has fallen in the prospect rankings, and according to MLB Pipeline, is now the team’s No. 18 prospect.

In 98 games, 88 for Triple-A Norfolk and 10 rehab games for High-A Frederick and Single-A Delmarva, Bradfield’s speed stood out, stealing 44 bases in 50 tries.

He hit .262 with a .715 OPS, five home runs and 38 RBIs. Seventy-one of his 93 hits were singles, and he did have a .352 on-base percentage.

Most of his work in the minors has been in center field, but he has played a significant amount in left field, too.

Aron Estrada

The Orioles’ 13^th-ranked prospect, Estrada, who’s a 21-year-old Venezuelan, had an excellent season for Double-A Chesapeake.

Estrada hit .278 with an .802 OPS, 24 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Baysox. He was promoted to Norfolk for the final week of the season and hit .350 (7-for-20) with a home run and five RBIs.

Listed at 5-feet-11, 142 pounds, Estrada played only second base this season.

Michael Forret

Forret, who’s the 10^th-ranked prospect, was the Orioles’ 14^th-round draft pick in 2023. After moving up to the Baysox last season, he was packaged along with three young prospects and sent to Tampa Bay for starter Shane Baz last December.

The Orioles reacquired the 22-year-old right-hander on August 3^rd from the Rays in the deal that sent Tyler Wells to Tampa Bay.

Forret finished the 2026 season on the injured list due to a left hip impingement.

He had a 6.35 ERA in five games, four starts for Norfolk, and before his trade, was 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Montgomery and 1-2 with a 4.89 ERA in nine games for Triple-A Durham.

Forret struck out 125 batters in 115 2/3 innings, walking 54.

Names to consider

Creed Willems

A year ago, the Orioles left Willems unprotected, and he was not drafted.

Then Willems hadn’t played above Double-A, but after a year with Norfolk,  he hit .254 with a .761 OPS, with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs.

Despite those numbers and multiple injuries to Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, the Orioles never called up the 24-year-old catcher.

Willems, the Orioles’ No. 28 prospect, threw out just 17 percent of runners who attempted to steal (17 of 90).

While the Orioles haven’t added him, they did take him on a road trip to Colorado as their taxi squad catcher, and he’s with the team this week, too.

Nestor German

German, the Orioles’ 21^st prospect, looked as if he could reach the big leagues late this season but was placed on the injured list on August 20^th.

At Norfolk, he was 5-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 24 games, 22 starts, with 120 strikeouts and 46 walks in 117 innings.

The 24-year-old right-hander was one of several pitchers who stayed with the Orioles through nearly all of spring training.

Patrick Reilly

Reilly, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2025, had a 3.63 ERA in eight starts at Chesapeake.

Due to his injury and new acquisitions, he’s not among the team’s top 30 prospects.

He had a 1.86 ERA in three starts for the Baysox last year. Despite not pitching much the last two seasons, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the 40-man roster.

Levi Wells

Wells was another pitcher who got an extended look during spring training, but he didn’t pitch much this season due to core muscle surgery.

The 25-year-old right-hander was the Orioles’ fourth-round pick in 2023 and went 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts at Norfolk before he was injured.

Wells is the Orioles’ 23rd-ranked prospect.

Braxton Bragg

Bragg didn’t pitch this year after Tommy John surgery in July 2025.

The Orioles are sending the 25-year-old right-hander to the Arizona Fall League next month, and perhaps if he does well there, they’ll put him on the 40-man.

Bragg, who’s the 22^nd-ranked prospect, was 4-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 12 games with High-A Aberdeen and Chesapeake in 2025 before his injury.

Andrew Magno

Despite a 1.70 ERA and 11 saves in 47 games at Norfolk, the Orioles never gave the 28-year-old a big league chance.

He could declare for minor league free agency ahead of the deadline for the 40-man roster and it’s possible the Orioles would put him on the 40-man to preclude that.

The biggest downside to the 28-year-old left-hander is that he walked more than five batters per nine innings this season.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@Baltimore1-Baseball.com