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 12 months earlier than failing to win a playoff recreation towards the Royals throughout the Wild Card Collection. Whereas that disappointing finish to the season along with 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 fee in 61 innings of labor. Sadly, the dominant nearer underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in early October of final 12 months and missed not solely the 2023 postseason however all of 2024, as properly. He figures to be again on the mound for Baltimore in 2025, although, and MASN’s Roch Kubatko relayed earlier immediately that Bautista is presently on monitor 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 significant step again this previous 12 months as they tried to interchange Bautista within the nearer function with veteran nearer Craig Kimbrel, who pitched fairly properly 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 remaining 18 innings of labor earlier than being designated for project in September.
Bautista might not be the one increase the membership’s bullpen will get getting into subsequent 12 months, both. The Orioles paid a hefty value to accumulate 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 group earlier than being demoted to Triple-A. That brutal stint within the membership’s rotation raised some questions in regards to the membership’s future plans for Rogers, who’s beneath management through arbitration by way of the top of the 2026 season. Kubatko supplied 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 among a handful of potential rotation choices who can be combating for a job with the massive league membership subsequent spring. Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, and Dean Kremer all seem to be 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 through free company or on the commerce market to fill at the very least a kind of spots, however the membership does have a handful of inside choices for the again of their rotation even past Rogers. Albert Suarez loved one thing of a breakout season in a swing function with the membership at age-34, pitching to a stable 3.70 ERA in 133 2/3 innings of labor this 12 months whereas drawing 24 begins and making an extra eight reduction appearances.
Different components within the membership’s rotation combine, if not out of Spring Coaching then sooner or later in 2025, determine to be kids Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott, each of whom made their massive league debuts in 2024 to considerably lackluster outcomes. McDermott surrendered three runs on 5 hits (together with a homer) and two walks whereas hanging out three in 4 innings of labor throughout his lone massive league look this 12 months, whereas Povich surrendered a 5.20 ERA with a 4.79 FIP in sixteen begins with the Orioles this 12 months. 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 might 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 in recent times as a consequence of elbow surgical procedure, plantar fasciitis, and shoulder points. He pitched 35 2/3 innings for the Royals this 12 months 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 remaining days of August, however made simply two appearances on the Triple-A stage earlier than being sidelined as a consequence of an damage and finally did not make the massive league membership. Whereas Anderson is presently scheduled to succeed in free company following the World Collection, Kubatko means that the membership may look to re-sign him, presumably on a recent minor league deal.
