Orioles righty Bryan Baker stands as one of the more interesting out-of-options players in spring training this year. The 30-year-old righty is on the roster bubble in Baltimore after an ugly 5.01 ERA in 23 1/3 big league innings last season, but Baker averaged better than 96 mph on his heater and posted sharp strikeout and walk rates even amid that rocky showing. He’s thrown three perfect innings so far this spring and, despite last year’s ERA blip, carries a career 3.76 ERA in 139 MLB frames.
Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes that scouts around the league have been “tracking” Baker throughout the spring and that the “market for him is developing.” However, Andrew Kittredge’s health status could create a clearer path to the roster for Baker. The veteran Kittredge, who inked a one-year deal worth $10MM in Baltimore this offseason, has been dealing with a knee issue and is seeking multiple opinions.
Baker is one of six potential Orioles relievers who can’t be optioned to Triple-A, but he’s the least established of the bunch. None of Kittredge, Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, Cionel Perez or Albert Suarez is a candidate to be sent to the minors or jettisoned from the 40-man roster. The other spots in Baltimore’s bullpen are earmarked for Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano and returning closer Felix Bautista. Akin and Cano both enjoyed strong 2024 seasons. Bautista was one of the sport’s top relievers prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2023. If Kittredge requires an IL stint, that’d give the O’s an easy way to delay any tough decisions on Baker, but if the entire relief corps is healthy come Opening Day, Baker could be in a tough spot.
Elsewhere in camp for the O’s, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez downplayed his struggles and diminished velocity in his most recent start. Via Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun, the right-hander averaged just 93.2 mph on his heater in yesterday’s start against the Twins — three miles per hour shy of his 2024 average. Weyrich notes that Rodriguez hit 100 mph in his first spring outing last year, and the right-hander explained that he felt he came out too strong last year and felt some soreness as a result, so he’s building up more gradually.
Rodriguez noted that he felt “sluggish” and “flat” and struggled to spin the ball as he normally can, but he wasn’t concerned about the dip in velocity. That’s reassuring for Orioles fans, as Baltimore can ill afford any type of step back from the 25-year-old. Rodriguez started 20 games last year and recorded 116 2/3 innings of 3.86 ERA ball, fanning 26.5% of opponents against a 7.3% walk rate. The O’s, of course, lost Corbin Burnes in free agency and didn’t add a big-name arm to replace him, instead opting to fill those innings with one-year deals for 41-year-old Charlie Morton ($15MM) and 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano ($13MM). The Orioles’ rotation of Zach Eflin, Rodriguez, Morton, Sugano and Dean Kremer could be solid, but there are plenty of question marks among the group as well.
Burnes discussed his decision to sign with the D-backs earlier in the offseason, but the right-hander chatted with Jack Vita for the Baltimore Sun earlier this week and spoke highly of the Orioles organization, touting their long-term outlook and noting that the club made a strong effort to re-sign him.
The former Cy Young winner described the O’s as “definitely pretty aggressive early on” as his free agency process began. While Burnes has previously stated that the Orioles didn’t submit a formal offer — just “some verbal stuff” — his comments this week strongly imply he still knew where they were willing to go in order to keep him. He suggested the O’s were “in the ballpark” and “competitive” in their pursuit, but Burnes again was clear in stating that the D-backs were his preference all throughout free agency, given his family residence in Arizona and the ability to be home with his wife and three young children.
Let’s hope the O’s finally start spending up to where they should, they owe it to their loyal fanbase.
If Grey’s forearm injury proves to be something minor (and he’s willing to wave his NTC), a TOR fit for the Os?
On the hitting side and if Os are in contention, trade for a batter with a healthy playoff slash line regardless of cost.
They’ve spent pretty aggressively this offseason. Payroll is middle of the pack now. They just didn’t add the 9 figure star salary fans want. They tried with Burnes, he just really wanted to play in Arizona. Nothing you can do about that.
@feverpitch
“if the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, then the whole world looks to you like a nail.”
come’on, I would be great if they signed a TOR starter but you can’t fault the O’s for not spending money as your comment suggests.
I would love a lot of things but bemoaning single solutions as the only way to go leads to a lot of disappointment in life. I chose not to live life like that.
The Orioles are big on 1 year deals and being “in the ballpark”. It’s just enough to keep the fan base optimistic, but shy of World Series level.
I loved you in Downton Abbey.
O’s will likely strive to reach the WC for a several year stretch since NYY/RSox can leverage their financial advantage….extend a few positions players who are willing and hope 1 year they have a magical postseason run.
Baker will get claimed if exposed to waivers.
We haven’t seen what the new ownership is willing to spend or not spend so i think everyone needs to be patient
Can we just you know? Eliminate all injuries from sports and have the best team win? Not saying my O’s would win if that were a possibility, but you really hate to see injuries diminish a competition/sport.
O’s relied on getting healthy years (Wells/Bradish) and veteran proven pitchers (Morton) and unproven in this league (Sugano) from pitchers this offseason. I personally don’t think its a wise way to go about it, but I don’t get paid for my opinion/advice either. I can’t be convinced that this team is better than it was with the loss of a Cy Young caliber pitcher in Burnes and a slugger who encapsulated the energy and personality of your clubhouse in Santander with the replacements that they have made.
The Orioles are potentially making a massive mistake in undervaluing Bryan Baker, and it’s eerily similar to the way they handled Jorge López before he became an All-Star closer for the Twins.
I assume you are being sarcastic. Lopez was an All Star closer for the ORIOLES before being traded to the Twins for a future All Star Cano and Cade Povich. Lopez is currently with the Nationals- his 6th team since being traded from the Orioles including a return stint with the Orioles. And as for undervaluing Baker he’s still around. And if he continues to pitch well he probably stays in Baltimore since he’s out of options.
You saved me 3 minutes of Googling his claim of Lopez being Mariano Rivera
Corbin Berns was great on LA law after retiring from Cleveland after Wild thing shacked his missus