The Orioles’ left-handed relief picture took another hit when Keegan Akin underwent Tommy John surgery yesterday, a move that will keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season and most of 2027. Baltimore was already thin from that side before the injury. Now, with only one lefty in the bullpen, the need is impossible to miss.
If the Orioles want to get back into the playoff mix, they’re going to have to navigate some dangerous left-handed bats in big moments. That means more than just Grant Wolfram has to be available when the pressure ramps up. With the trade deadline approaching, the market should offer a few possible fixes, and two names stand out.
One option is Brennan Bernardino, a veteran who has built a strong reputation for handling left-handed hitters. He’s putting together a good season for the Rockies despite the challenge of pitching at Coors Field, and lefties are hitting just .241/.282/.342 against him this year.
Bernardino isn’t a big strikeout arm, but he excels at weak contact and doesn’t give away many free passes. The profile fits neatly with what Baltimore needs, and he could step into high-leverage work against lefties right away.
There’s also the longer-term appeal: Bernardino still has three more seasons of arbitration after this one, which could make him more than just a rental.
The other name is Jojo Romero, a pitcher the Orioles were connected to in the offseason but couldn’t land from the Cardinals. That might have worked out in Baltimore’s favor, since Romero hasn’t matched his 2025 production.
If the Orioles had paid that kind of price for his 2026 season, it would have been a tough deal to swallow. Even so, he would still be an upgrade for the bullpen, and with only a half-season of control left, the cost should be lower now than it was before.
Romero comes with a wrinkle, though. This season he has been a reverse-splits pitcher, which doesn’t line up perfectly with why Baltimore would want a left-handed reliever in the first place.
The sample is small, however, and his career numbers against lefties have been strong. Any team trading for him would have to believe those broader results are the real version of Romero, not just what he’s shown this year.
There’s one more catch with Romero: the Cardinals are in position to contend for a playoff spot, so they may not be eager sellers. For Baltimore to get involved there, the Orioles would likely need St. Louis to pursue a buy-sell deadline approach.
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Francisco Lindor sits at the center of that speculation, and the appeal is obvious from Baltimores side. He would bring a switch-hitting presence and a defensive boost to an infield that could use both, but any pursuit comes with real questions about age, cost and how much value he would still provide over the life of a major contract. For the Orioles, the idea is tempting enough to watch closely, even if the price tag makes the whole thing harder to imagine. [Read more 🡒]
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Sam Huff was activated from the taxi squad to help cover the position, with Cam Sanders going back out to make room. The larger issue is what comes next if the catching situation does not clear up soon, because Baltimore may be forced into an awkward choice between an injured list move, carrying just one healthy catcher, or keeping an extra body around and living with the roster squeeze. [Read more 🡒]
Ike Irish Delivered A Huge Orioles Farm Day Amid More Tides Frustration
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Norfolk, meanwhile, had a tougher night in a 4-0 loss to Nashville, with Trey Gibson giving the Tides a workable start before the game slipped away. Thomas Sosa and Brandon Butterworth each provided a homer for Norfolk, but the offense never found enough traction against a Sounds lineup that got steady help from Victor Figueroa and Colin Tuft. [Read more 🡒]