Jul 13, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge (39) pitches in the 9th inning against the Miami Marlins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Question: I love the bats we’ve added. And I’m sure we’re still looking for starting pitchers. But I don’t hear much about the bullpen and that seems like a major weakness. Looking over the projected names in the bullpen currently, there aren’t many I trust. How concerned are you? From: Rick Zittle Answer: Rick, there are still many free agent relievers on the market, and lots of time between now and spring training. The Orioles have already added a proven closer, Ryan Helsley and a setup man, Andrew Kittredge, and the guess here is that they’ll add another proven reliever or two. Last season, the team had 15 pitchers who pitched in relief 15 or more times, so let’s say they’ll need the same number of pitchers capable of doing that this season. Besides Helsley and Kittredge, they have Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, Kade Strowd, Yaramil Hiraldo, Colin Selby, Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram, all of whom pitched extensively for the team last season. Also on the 40-man roster are Jose Espada, Cameron Foster, Chayce McDermott, Anthony Nunez, George Soriano and Josh Walker. On Wednesday, they re-signed Albert Suárez, who could provide depth in the bullpen, too. It’s possible that Cade Povich, Tyler Wells and Brandon Young could see time in the bullpen, and also possible that Félix Bautista could return late in the season. I’m not taking into account some of the relievers who were signed to minor league contracts, who could be invited to spring training: Andrew Magno, Enoldi Paredes, Richard Guasch, Jeisson Cabrera and Jean Henriquez. From all these names with a few additional acquisitions, I think the Orioles bullpen could be more than adequate. Question: I understand the concept of framing pitches and there some catchers referred to as elite framers, like Adley Rutschman. Is there any metric related to it? Do they track pitches that are called strikes but were actually out of the strike zone? From: Rick Staley Answer: Rick, Baseball Savant has a Catcher Framing Leaderboard. It shows what they call “attack zones,” which are up to four inches away from he strike zone. Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants saved an estimated 25 runs last season by converting 47.7 percent of the pitches taken into strikes, the highest percentage in baseball. Rutschman was 14th of 57 catchers with two runs saved and converting 43.5 percent of the pitches taken into strikes. Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.
Spring training begins in just over a week, and it’s still possible the Orioles will add to their starting rotation and their bullpen. This week, the Orioles should release their list of non-roster invitees to spring training, which will include a number of candidates for the bullpen.
Last season, Oriole starters had a 4.65 ERA and their relievers had a 4.57.
Obviously, the team wants improvement from both groups, though it might be harder to see an improved bullpen.
Their 2026 Opening Day bullpen will look much different. Gone are Bryan Baker, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Cionel Pérez.
Closer Félix Bautista, whose return from Tommy John surgery was eagerly anticipated a year ago, will miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season because of labrum and rotator cuff surgery.
Three pitchers who began 2025 are back — Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano and Albert Suárez, who was hurt in the season’s second game, pitched only five times,and comes to camp as a non-roster player.
Andrew Kittredge, who was on the injured list after March knee surgery, will return after his trade to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline.
Let’s say that Akin, Cano, Kittredge and Suárez are all on the Opening Day roster. Cano is one of the few experienced relievers with options remaining, so his return isn’t a certainty, especially after a rocky 2025 season.
Who are the candidates to fill the other bullpen spots?
One certainty is Ryan Helsley, who was signed to close. From 2022-2025, Helsley, who was a two-time All-Star with the St. Lous Cardinals, had 103 saves. He was traded to the New York Mets late last July and didn’t close because the Mets had one of baseball’s best, Edwin Diaz.
Helsley had a 7.20 ERA in 22 games with the Mets, and the Orioles think he’ll return to his St. Louis form. He had a 2.67 ERA in 275 games with the Cardinals.
Kade Strowd had an impressive second half, with a 1.71 ERA in 25 games. He’s also valuable because he has options left.
Like Akin, Dietrich Enns is a left-hander. He finally established himself in the majors at 34 after a solid two months. Enns, who had a 3.14 ERA, doesn’t have options but can pitch multiple innings.
Other right-handed options include Rico Garcia and Colin Selby. Neither has options and would likely be claimed if the Orioles put them on waivers.
Other right-handers on the 40-man roster are Yaramil Hiraldo, who had a 4.58 ERA in 18 games with the Orioles last season, Jose Espada, who pitched only once, and rookies Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez.
Each of these right-handers has multiple options, as does left-hander Grant Wolfram, who was 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games last season.
The Orioles could use some starting candidates in the bullpen. The most familiar name is Tyler Wells, who could begin the season in the rotation, particularly if there isn’t another major addition or if Zach Eflin, who had back surgery, isn’t ready to start 2026 on the active list.
Wells has two options remaining. Others with options remaining are Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich and Brandon Young.
The Orioles tried McDermott in the bullpen briefly late in the season. Povich and Young are still thought of starters, but perhaps that could change, particularly if they want pitchers with options available.
Some others who’ll get invitations to spring training are right-handers Hans Crouse and Enoli Paredes, and left-handers Andrew Magno and Josh Walker. Crouse and Walker have some major league experience as well as an option.
Others who were signed as free agents over the winter and could be seen this spring are left-hander Eric Torres and right-handers Jeisson Cabrera, Richard Guasch and Jean Henriquez.
Book recommendation: Longtime New York Post baseball writer Ken Davidoff, also a longtime friend, has written a unique book, “101 Lessons From the Dugout,” along with Dr. Harley A. Rotbart.
The authors take examples from baseball and softball and equate them to real-life situations in a most endearing way for younger players and readers.
For example, in a chapter about being on deck, they write: “Sometimes life gives you a close-up preview of the challenges about to come your way. Your good friend one grade up knows about the teachers you’ll have next year and how strict they are with homework assignments.”
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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