As Orioles relief pitchers report to spring training this week, it’s largely the same crew that finished the 2025 season. And that’s a surprise.
The expectation was that the O’s would be aggressive in reshaping their bullpen after trading away four veteran relievers last year and losing closer Félix Bautista to injury. Instead, the O’s have made only two relief additions. On Nov. 4, they reacquired Andrew Kittredge, one of the relievers they’d dealt at the deadline. And on Dec. 1, they signed Ryan Helsley as their new closer. Since then, it’s been crickets. The O’s even traded away a reliever, Kade Strowd, in the Blaze Alexander deal.
Advertisement
With Helsley and Kittredge slotted into the closer and setup roles, respectively, the O’s otherwise are rolling with a group of largely untested arms to fill out the rest of the bullpen. Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns are the top lefties, perhaps with Grant Wolfram in the mix. Candidates from the right side are Rico Garcia, Yennier Cano, Yaramil Hiraldo, Colin Selby, and Tyler Wells, if he’s not needed in the rotation. Albert Suárez is back on a minor league deal. Prospects Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez were added to the 40-man roster and could get a look.
If the O’s don’t have another bullpen acquisition in the cards before the season starts, which of these relievers — if any — are you feeling the most confident about? Did Kittredge impress you in his three-month stint as an Oriole last year? Do you trust in the two-time All-Star Helsley’s strong Cardinals career, or did his brutal post-deadline performance with the Mets last year turn you off? Do any of the lesser-known names strike you as breakout candidates?
Let us know what you think, Camden Chatters.
