The Orioles aren’t wasting time this offseason-and with good reason. After a breakout 2025 campaign that ended with more questions than answers in the bullpen, Baltimore has already made two significant moves to shore up the late innings.
First came the reacquisition of right-hander Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs. Then, over the weekend, the Orioles reportedly locked in Ryan Helsley on a two-year, $28 million deal.
With All-Star closer Félix Bautista expected to miss most-if not all-of 2026 following shoulder surgery, the Orioles needed a proven arm to handle the ninth. Enter Helsley, who brings both experience and elite-level stuff, even if his late-season stint with the Mets didn’t go as planned.
Let’s start there. Helsley was lights-out for the Cardinals in the first half of 2025, notching 21 saves with a 3.00 ERA and a fastball that routinely touched triple digits.
But after a deadline deal sent him to New York, things unraveled. In 11 appearances with the Mets, he went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA and blew all four of his save chances.
That’s the bad news. The good news?
He finished strong, tossing seven straight scoreless innings to close out the season, allowing just three hits in that stretch. For a team like Baltimore, which needs someone who can handle high-leverage spots while Bautista recovers, that kind of finish matters.
Helsley also brings familiarity to the clubhouse-he and Kittredge were teammates in St. Louis in 2024. Now they reunite in a Baltimore bullpen that’s being rebuilt almost from scratch.
Kittredge, who was one of four relievers traded away in July as the Orioles retooled for the future, is back in the fold. His return doesn’t require a corresponding roster move, as the Orioles currently sit at 38 players on the 40-man roster. That flexibility is a nice bonus as the front office keeps working the phones.
The bullpen overhaul is clearly a priority. Along with Helsley and Kittredge, the Orioles have retained lefty Keegan Akin and righty Yennier Cano-both arbitration-eligible-as well as re-signing left-hander Dietrich Enns and right-hander Rico Garcia. That’s a solid foundation, but there’s more work to do.
One name to keep an eye on is Kade Strowd. The right-hander quietly posted a 1.71 ERA over 25 games in 2025, including 19 appearances after the trade deadline. He remains on the 40-man roster and could be a key piece moving forward.
Other bullpen arms currently on the 40-man include Yaramil Hiraldo, Colin Selby, and Grant Wolfram-all of whom finished the season on the active roster. Jose Espada, who made one three-inning appearance for the O’s, is also in the mix, along with George Soriano, claimed off waivers from Miami.
Then there are the deadline acquisitions: right-handers Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez, both brought in from the Mets. And don’t forget Chayce McDermott, a former starter who’s now being considered for a bullpen role.
It’s clear that president of baseball operations Mike Elias is moving with purpose. Just last week, Elias dealt starter Grayson Rodriguez in a bold move to land power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward.
Now he’s turning his attention to the bullpen, and specifically, to finding a reliable ninth-inning option. With Helsley in the fold, that box might already be checked.
“We’re trying to make an external addition there, so working on that right now,” Elias said on November 20. “I can’t say things with 100 percent certainty, but we’re making every effort to make external additions to the bullpen and in particular an experienced ninth-inning guy if we can.”
Mission accomplished-at least for now.
But the Orioles’ offseason work is far from done. The next major focus?
Starting pitching. Behind Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells, and Dean Kremer, there’s a need for more depth and possibly another frontline arm.
Prospects Cade Povich and Brandon Young are in the mix, but it’s likely the team will look to add experience from outside the organization.
Last offseason, Baltimore made moves just before the Winter Meetings, signing Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez. Those deals became official during the meetings themselves. With this year’s Winter Meetings set to begin December 7 in Orlando, the Orioles could be gearing up for another round of activity.
For now, the bullpen is coming into focus. Helsley brings the heat.
Kittredge brings familiarity. And the Orioles, once again, are signaling that they’re not just building for the future-they’re building to win now.