The Orioles’ disappointing season can be attributed to poor offensive and defensive performances by key players, and injuries to some others. It can’t be attributed to the bullpen.
Perhaps the most surprising stat about Oriole relievers is that they pitched the fourth-fewest innings in baseball, 573. Only the Dodgers, Phillies and Mariners used the bullpen less often than the Orioles.
The bullpen’s ERA was 3.82, the 11th best in baseball. Eight of the 10 teams with betters ERAs were playoff teams.
Oriole relievers gave up 57 home runs, second fewest in baseball.
That performance was remarkable considering that their highest-profile reliever, Ryan Helsley, who signed a one-year contract with a 2027 option totaling $28 million, pitched in only 17 games.
Félix Bautista, who spent nearly the entire season, rehabbing from rotator cuff and labrum surgery, pitched only twice in September.
Helsley, who’s expected to exercise his 2027 option, and Bautista should be able to give the Orioles a stronger back-end of the bullpen next season.
Andrew Kittredge, who led the team with 11 saves, is a free agent and seems unlikely to return.
Besides Bautista and Helsley, Rico Garcia, who led the Orioles with 75 appearances and saved 10 games, the first of his career, will be back. Garcia was 6-1 with a 3.09 ERA.
Yennier Cano will be back, too. Cano signed a two-year extension, covering his final two arbitration seasons, and while he pitched in 68 games, trailing only Garcia, he faced only 204 batters, sixth most on the team.
Albert Suárez, who pitched 63 innings in relief, second most on the team, might not return. Suárez was cut from the roster five times, and still managed to pitch in 28 games. Suárez was the ultimate innings eater, and was rewarded for his willingness to eagerly re-sign with the team with a win in relief of Trevor Rogers, throwing four innings in the second-to-last game of the season.
It’s possible the Orioles might not offer Suárez arbitration, but he could return on a minor league contract, which he did this season.
Anthony Nunez, who made the team after Kittredge and Keegan Akin began the season on the injured list, was used 52 times and had three early-season saves. Nunez led the bullpen with 26 walks, and his 66 strikeouts trailed only Garcia’s 68.
Left-hander Grant Wolfram pitched in 60 games, behind only Garcia and Cano. Wolfram had the best strikeout/walk ratio among Oriole relievers, striking out nearly four times as many batters as he walked.
Akin didn’t pitch after June, and the Orioles didn’t have experienced left-handers.
His absence allowed Josh Walker to get his first extensive major league experience at 31. Walker pitched in 31 games and didn’t allow a run in 21 straight appearances, fourth longest in team history. He finished the season with a 2.08 ERA.
The Orioles elevated Luis De León for eight September outings, and he pitched well, allowing just six hits and two walks in 9 1/3 innings. While he could give the Orioles a potentially intimidating left-hander in the bullpen, they plan for him to compete for a starting spot in spring training.
Besides Walker, there were two other interesting additions in the second half. Right-hander Cam Sanders, who had an 8.44 ERA in 15 games with Pittsburgh in 2025 and 2026, pitched in 19 games with a 2.70 ERA and three saves. Alex Hoppe, part of the return the Orioles received for outfielder Taylor Ward, had a 1.84 ERA with one save in 18 games but walked nine batters in 14 2/3 innings.
Remaining on the 40-man roster are right-handers Cameron Foster, Codi Heuer, Yaramil Hiraldo and Yosyer Zulueta.
Foster was in eight games in April and May but missed most of the season with a right shoulder injury.
Hiraldo also was held back with a right shoulder injury and pitched in eight games with an 8.68 ERA.
Heuer was acquired at the trade deadline from Milwaukee for cash considerations, threw 14 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A Norfolk and didn’t appear in a game during the three days he was with the team in September. He’s eligible for arbitration and may not be offered a major league contract for 2027.
Zulueta, who pitched in 19 games for Cincinnati in 2024 and 2025, was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on June 2026. He stayed at Norfolk for the remainder of the season, with an 0-1 record and 3;74 ERA.
Note: Infielder Luis Vázquez, who appeared in one game this season, filed for free agency. … Left-hander Nick Raquet, who pitched in four games for the Orioles and had Tommy John surgery in September, signed a two-year minor league contract with Detroit, according to Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston.
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