Kyle Bradish just secured a win off the mound-this time in the arbitration room.
The Orioles right-hander won his salary arbitration case, locking in a $3.55 million payday for 2026 after a hearing that took place yesterday. The team had countered at $2.875 million, but a three-person panel sided with Bradish, marking a financial victory for the 27-year-old who continues to be a key piece in Baltimore’s pitching plans.
This marks Bradish’s second year of arbitration, and as a Super Two player, he’s under team control through 2028. He earned $2.35 million last season, and with his salary now set for the upcoming year, the Orioles can shift focus to the only unresolved arbitration case on the roster-lefty reliever Keegan Akin, who’s seeking $3.375 million while the club has offered $2.975 million.
But beyond the numbers, the more intriguing question is where Bradish fits in the Orioles’ 2026 rotation.
With Opening Day set for March 26 against the Twins at Camden Yards, Bradish is a strong candidate to take the ball first-unless Baltimore makes a splash and signs a frontline starter like Framber Valdez, who remains a free agent and on their radar. If the O’s land a proven ace, Bradish could slot into the No. 2 spot, potentially followed by Trevor Rogers and Shane Baz, depending on how the rest of camp shakes out.
Wherever he lands in the rotation, the Orioles are banking on a full, healthy season from Bradish-and there’s good reason to believe he can deliver. After undergoing ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow, he returned late last season and looked sharp in limited action. In six starts, he posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.031 WHIP across 32 innings, striking out 47 batters-a reminder of just how dominant he can be when he’s right.
That late-season form was a continuation of the pitcher who finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2023. That year, Bradish went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.043 WHIP over 30 starts, establishing himself as one of the league’s breakout arms. He carried that momentum into early 2024, putting up a 2.75 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, and a staggering 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings through eight starts before elbow issues cut his season short.
A platelet-rich plasma injection in January 2024 delayed the inevitable, but surgery followed. Now, after a long road back, Bradish is healthy again-and with his arbitration win, he’s also got a well-earned raise to show for it.
For the Orioles, the hope is simple: that Bradish can stay on the mound and keep missing bats. Because when he’s dealing, he’s not just a good arm in the rotation-he’s a game-changer.