As the MLB offseason heats up, the Baltimore Orioles find themselves with plenty of decisions to make-particularly when it comes to the bullpen. According to MLB.com, there are currently 107 free-agent relievers on the market, and with the Orioles still looking to round out their pitching staff, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them dip back into that pool. Interestingly, 14 of those available arms have worn an Orioles uniform at some point.
Some of the names are familiar and recent. Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto, both acquired in July, are now back on the open market.
Craig Kimbrel is also available after a rollercoaster 2024 campaign-he looked sharp in the first half, but struggled down the stretch. Then there’s Danny Coulombe, a reliable lefty whose $4 million option for 2025 was surprisingly declined by Baltimore.
A few others had brief stints with the team this past season, including Jorgé Castillo, Carson Ragsdale, and Elvin Rodriguez. Their time in Baltimore may have been short, but they’re part of a growing list of former O’s arms now seeking new homes.
Then there’s the group that hasn’t been in black and orange for a while. T.J.
McFarland, for instance, last pitched for the Orioles in 2016. He re-signed with the organization in 2023 but never cracked the big-league roster, spending the year with Triple-A Norfolk.
Now 36, McFarland has bounced around with four other clubs since his last MLB appearance for Baltimore, including two separate stints with Oakland.
Miguel Castro, another former Oriole, has made stops with six different teams since being dealt in August 2020. And then there’s Hunter Harvey, the team’s first-round pick back in 2013. Harvey’s career has been a story of resilience through injury-most recently, he logged 10 2/3 scoreless innings for the Royals in 2025, despite two separate IL stints due to shoulder and groin issues.
Other former Orioles relievers currently unsigned include Shawn Armstrong, Jorge López (who’s already had two tours with the team), Evan Phillips, and Jacob Webb.
Phillips, in particular, is a fascinating case. His numbers in Baltimore weren’t pretty-he posted a 7.36 ERA over parts of three seasons-but his turnaround with the Dodgers was nothing short of remarkable.
Over five years in L.A., he posted a 2.22 ERA with 45 saves across 201 games. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June, and the Dodgers chose not to tender him a contract last month.
While the Orioles are already waiting on Félix Bautista, who underwent rotator cuff and labrum surgery in August, Phillips could be a long-term play worth considering-if the timing works.
Webb, meanwhile, was non-tendered by Texas after a solid 2025 season in which he went 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA across 55 appearances. His control improved significantly-after walking more than four batters per nine innings during his time in Baltimore, he cut that rate to 2.6 last season while striking out nearly eight per nine.
But there’s a challenge that comes with signing veteran relievers: roster flexibility. Many of these pitchers are out of minor league options, which limits how teams can manage their bullpen depth throughout a long season.
Looking at Baltimore’s current 40-man roster (excluding Bautista, who may miss most or all of 2026), several relievers are out of options: Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, Rico Garcia, George Soriano, and Colin Selby. Ryan Helsley, whose signing isn’t yet official, is also out of options.
That makes optionable pitchers a valuable commodity. Yennier Cano and Kade Strowd each have two options remaining, which could help explain why the Orioles extended Cano a contract for 2026.
Jose Espada, Yaramil Hiraldo, and Grant Wolfram also have two options apiece, while Chayce McDermott-converted to a reliever last season-has one. New additions to the 40-man, Cameron Foster and Anthony Nunez, come with three options each, giving the Orioles some much-needed wiggle room.
That kind of flexibility matters. The Orioles are likely aiming to keep at least two or three relievers with options on the 40-man roster to help navigate the inevitable injuries and performance fluctuations that come with a 162-game grind.
Meanwhile, there’s been some chatter about Ramón Urías, who was recently non-tendered by Houston. The Orioles don’t currently have a true utility infielder on the 40-man roster.
Jeremiah Jackson, who does have three options, has only played third base and right field at the major league level. Luis Vázquez is another option-he’s on a minor league deal and has two options remaining-but he hit just .160 in 50 at-bats across 32 games.
Urías was a steady contributor during his time in Baltimore, but with Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg all expected to take on significant roles in 2026, there may not be much room for a utility infielder to get consistent reps.
Beyond the bullpen, the Orioles have several other familiar faces currently on the open market. That includes catchers Gary Sánchez and Jacob Stallings, first basemen Ryan O’Hearn and Justin Turner, second basemen Adam Frazier and José Iglesias, shortstop Jorge Mateo, outfielders Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Austin Slater, designated hitter Eloy Jiménez, and starting pitchers Alex Cobb, Nestor Cortes, Zach Eflin, John Means, Wade Miley, Albert Suárez, and Tomoyuki Sugano.
It’s a long list of former Orioles now looking for their next opportunity. And for a team that’s right on the cusp of contention, Baltimore’s front office has no shortage of options-both familiar and new-as it looks to build a bullpen (and a roster) that can hold up in 2026 and beyond.