Kyle Bradish just notched a win - and not on the mound. The Orioles right-hander came out on top in his arbitration hearing and will earn $3.55 million in 2026, beating out the team’s offer of $2.875 million. It’s a well-earned raise for a pitcher who’s quietly become one of the most effective arms in the American League when healthy.
Bradish, 29, made his return late last season after undergoing UCL surgery - the kind of procedure that often puts a pitcher’s future in question. But if there were any doubts about his ability to bounce back, he erased them quickly.
In just 32 innings, he posted a 2.53 ERA with a staggering 37.3% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. That’s not just solid - that’s dominant.
And the stuff? Still electric.
His sinker, which sat at 95 mph pre-surgery, came back at an average of 94.8 mph. That’s a great sign for a pitcher whose game relies on velocity and movement.
While it’s unlikely he maintains that 37% strikeout clip over a full season, Bradish has shown enough over the past few years to suggest he’s more than just a flash in the pan.
Let’s zoom out. Since the start of the 2023 season, Bradish owns a 2.78 ERA across 240 innings - elite territory.
For his career, he’s pitched to a 3.47 ERA over nearly 358 innings. That’s not just surface-level success either.
He’s struck out nearly 26% of the batters he’s faced and walked just 7.8%. In 2025, he posted career-best marks in both swinging-strike rate (14.6%) and chase rate (30.5%), showing he’s not just overpowering hitters - he’s outsmarting them too.
This arbitration win also reflects his growing value. As a Super Two player, Bradish made $2.35 million in 2025, his first year of arbitration eligibility.
The $3.55 million salary for 2026 represents a 51% raise - a significant bump that underscores how important he’s become to Baltimore’s rotation plans. He’s under team control through the 2028 season, giving the Orioles a valuable window with a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Looking ahead, Bradish is expected to slot in as either the Orioles’ No. 1 or No. 2 starter alongside Trevor Rogers, who had a bit of a renaissance himself in 2025. After a rocky 2024, Rogers bounced back with a 1.81 ERA over 109 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate (24.8%) wasn’t quite in Bradish’s neighborhood, and he did benefit from a very low .226 BABIP, but he still showed solid command and ground-ball ability.
There are some durability questions with both pitchers - Bradish coming off elbow surgery, Rogers with a limited workload last year - but if they stay healthy, this duo gives Baltimore a legitimate one-two punch at the top of the rotation.
And the Orioles might not be done. They’ve already added Shane Baz in a trade with the Rays earlier this offseason and are reportedly still in the mix for free agents like Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, and Lucas Giolito. Whether or not another arm joins the fold, Bradish figures to be a key piece of the puzzle as the O’s look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 and return to playoff contention under new manager Craig Albernaz.
In short, Bradish is back, he’s dealing, and now he’s getting paid like it. If his arm holds up, Baltimore’s rotation might just have the backbone it needs to make some noise in 2026.