The Orioles enter the 2024-25 offseason on the heels of a disappointing finish to their season the place they fell out of the AL East race late within the yr earlier than failing to win a playoff sport towards the Royals throughout the Wild Card Collection. Whereas that disappointing finish to the season at the side of the upcoming free businesses of key items like Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander is definitely worrisome for followers in Baltimore, there may be one main silver lining relating to the membership’s 2025 outlook: the upcoming return of nearer Felix Bautista
Bautista, 29, was maybe the only most dominant bullpen arm on the planet in 2023 when he made his first profession All-Star look and pitched to a jaw-dropping 1.48 ERA with a 1.88 FIP with a ridiculous 46.4% strikeout charge in 61 innings of labor. Sadly, the dominant nearer underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in early October of final yr and missed not solely the 2023 postseason however all of 2024, as nicely. He figures to be again on the mound for Baltimore in 2025, although, and MASN’s Roch Kubatko relayed earlier at present that Bautista is at present on observe to be “full-go” in time for Spring Coaching in February. That’s an ideal signal for the Orioles, significantly given the truth that their bullpen took a serious step again this previous yr as they tried to interchange Bautista within the nearer position with veteran nearer Craig Kimbrel, who pitched fairly nicely within the first half of the season however fell aside in mid-July, surrendering an 11.50 ERA with a 7.44 FIP in his closing 18 innings of labor earlier than being designated for task in September.
Bautista will not be the one enhance the membership’s bullpen will get getting into subsequent yr, both. The Orioles paid a hefty value to amass lefty Trevor Rogers from the Marlins, surrendering well-regarded kids Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby to seal the deal. Rogers struggled badly in his first style of motion with the Orioles, nevertheless, surrendering 16 runs (15 earned) in 19 innings of labor throughout 4 begins with the crew earlier than being demoted to Triple-A. That brutal stint within the membership’s rotation raised some questions concerning the membership’s future plans for Rogers, who’s below management by way of arbitration by the tip of the 2026 season. Kubatko provided some perception on the membership’s pondering, noting that whereas the Orioles haven’t but given up on the likelihood that Rogers can pitch within the rotation the membership additionally figures to weigh the worth he may carry to the membership as a protracted reliever.
That makes Rogers one in all a handful of potential rotation choices who might be preventing for a job with the large league membership subsequent spring. Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, and Dean Kremer all look like to be a part of the membership’s rotation on Opening Day 2025, leaving two spots up for grabs. It appears doubtless that the Orioles will pursue an exterior addition both by way of free company or on the commerce market to fill at the very least a type of spots, however the membership does have a handful of inner choices for the again of their rotation even past Rogers. Albert Suarez loved one thing of a breakout season in a swing position with the membership at age-34, pitching to a stable 3.70 ERA in 133 2/3 innings of labor this yr whereas drawing 24 begins and making an extra eight reduction appearances.
Different elements within the membership’s rotation combine, if not out of Spring Coaching then in some unspecified time in the future in 2025, determine to be kids Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott, each of whom made their large league debuts in 2024 to considerably lackluster outcomes. McDermott surrendered three runs on 5 hits (together with a homer) and two walks whereas placing out three in 4 innings of labor throughout his lone large league look this yr, whereas Povich surrendered a 5.20 ERA with a 4.79 FIP in sixteen begins with the Orioles this yr. Regardless of these bumpy debuts, nevertheless, the kids may nonetheless be utilized both as depth within the rotation or as lengthy reduction choices out of the bullpen ought to they fail to earn a spot within the rotation out of camp this spring.
One different potential bullpen arm Kubatko suggests may very well be value maintaining a tally of is veteran right-hander Nick Anderson. Anderson, 34, was as soon as a highly-regarded hurler for the Rays however missed time lately attributable to elbow surgical procedure, plantar fasciitis, and shoulder points. He pitched 35 2/3 innings for the Royals this yr with a middling 4.04 ERA however a worrisome 5.06 FIP earlier than being launched by the Royals in late July. Anderson joined the Orioles on a minor league deal within the closing days of August, however made simply two appearances on the Triple-A degree earlier than being sidelined attributable to an harm and finally didn’t make the large league membership. Whereas Anderson is at present scheduled to achieve free company following the World Collection, Kubatko means that the membership may look to re-sign him, presumably on a recent minor league deal.
