Orioles Bullpen Remains Biggest Offseason Priority

The Baltimore Orioles roll into the Winter Meetings with a pretty clear agenda, but a lot of questions still hang in the air. General Manager Mike Elias has already dipped into both Major League and minor league pitching markets.

The club still doesn’t have a true rotation anchor or a proven late-inning stopper. With injuries, inconsistency, and financial calculations all in the mix, Baltimore’s front office is walking a tightrope—trying to upgrade the pitching staff for 2025 but not overcommitting in ways that could make Félix Bautista’s eventual return more complicated.

Orioles Enter Winter Meetings with Pitching at the Top of the Agenda

There’s no mystery about what Baltimore wants. Elias has been upfront: the offseason plan revolves around two main things—adding at least one frontline starter and locking down a dependable bullpen arm for the late innings.

Now that the Orioles look like real contenders, small upgrades just aren’t enough. This roster needs arms that can actually change the game.

The timing of the Winter Meetings, starting December 7, puts a spotlight on decisions that could shape not just 2025, but the next few years. The moves (or lack of them) in the coming weeks will show just how bold this front office really wants to be.

Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton: Helpful, but Not the Final Answer

So far, the Orioles have tried to patch their rotation by signing Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton. On paper, it’s a mix of upside and veteran know-how:

Both right-handers raise the floor for the rotation, but neither has shown the kind of dominance that lets Elias say the staff is “set.” The Orioles still look like they’re missing a true rotation anchor—the kind of pitcher you hand the ball to for Game 1 in October, no questions asked.

Bautista’s Injury Complicates the Closer Puzzle

If the rotation is murky, the bullpen is even messier. The heart of the problem is Félix Bautista and his absence, after surgery on both his labrum and rotator cuff.

That injury has forced the Orioles to rethink their whole bullpen plan. Without Bautista’s overpowering stuff, there’s no obvious ninth-inning answer. But since he could return, it’s tricky to hand out big contracts to other closers.

Top Closers on the Market – and the Money Question

A few top relievers are still out there, like:

Any of them would steady the late innings in Baltimore, but none will come cheap—whether we’re talking money, contract years, or prospects. The front office has to decide if it’s worth it to invest heavily in a closer now, knowing Bautista might reclaim that role down the road.

This is the dilemma for Elias: spend big on a temporary fix, or try to get by with internal options and bargain plays until Bautista’s future is clearer.

Andrew Kittredge and the Search for Flexible Relief Arms

In the middle of all this, the Orioles made a smart move by trading with the Cubs for Andrew Kittredge. He’s not a household name, but he checks a lot of important boxes.

Kittredge brings versatility, experience, and can pitch in a bunch of different situations—including, if needed, the ninth inning. His track record suggests he can work as a multi-inning guy or even as a matchup-based closer, which gives the coaching staff some much-needed flexibility early in 2025.

Minor League Deals Add Low-Risk Depth

Elias has also been quietly building up the organizational pitching depth. Baltimore has signed a handful of minor league arms, each a low-cost, maybe high-reward bet:

No one expects these pitchers to be sure things, but together they give the Orioles a pool of candidates who can battle for bullpen spots, serve as injury insurance, and maybe even surprise as useful contributors. It’s a modern approach—spread the risk, let the best arms rise to the top.

Protecting the Pipeline: Rule 5 Considerations

While the Major League bullpen still needs work, the Orioles are also looking to protect their future depth. They made sure to shield a few prospects from the Rule 5 draft, including Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez.

By adding these arms to the 40-man roster, Baltimore showed they see real potential in-house. It’s a reminder that, honestly, most good bullpens aren’t built just through free agency—they’re pieced together through scouting, development, and a little luck with the right acquisitions.

Injuries, Inconsistency, and What Must Happen Next

Injuries keep piling up, and uneven performances have made the bullpen the Orioles’ biggest headache heading into 2025. The group’s got plenty of intrigue but, honestly, not much certainty right now.

That’s why Elias wants to add experienced relief pitching. The rotation still needs at least one more high-impact arm, too.

As the Winter Meetings kick off, the blueprint seems simple enough—at least on paper. Baltimore needs to steady the late innings and reinforce the top of the rotation.

But here’s the tricky part: they have to do all this without shutting out Bautista or blocking the next wave of young pitchers. Can they thread that needle? It’s tough to say, but how they handle it could decide if 2025 is just another step or the year the Orioles finally cash in on all that potential.

 
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