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Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Opinion: Baltimore Orioles Need to Acquire a Reliever

Originally posted on Inside The Diamonds
By Chris Lavallee | Last updated 5/9/24

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the favorites to win the American League Pennant in 2024 and have a chance to win their first World Series title since 1983, which was also the last time they were in the World Series, they reached the ALCS in 1996, 1997, and 2014 but fell short of reaching the Fall Classic. The Orioles don’t have many weaknesses with a lineup loaded with talent which includes, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, and breakout rookie Colton Cowser. They also have a loaded farm system with Jackson Holliday despite his struggles they expect him to be a key piece going forward, Samuel Basallo, Coby Mayo, Heston Kjerstad (he is currently with the Orioles), Enrique Bradfield who all rank in ITD’s Top 100 prospects . They also have a loaded rotation with ace Corbin Burnes, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Cole Irvin, they got back John Means the other day and have Grayson Rodriguez who is on the 15-day injured list. The one issue they have is their bullpen and that stood out last night despite getting the win 7-6 over the Nationals , they blew not one but two leads which included Keegan Akin despite Craig Kimbrel being the one that allowed the runs that scored to reach base, and Albert Suarez despite him getting the win giving up two runs in the 11th. The Orioles through 36 games have blown a total of eight saves out of 20 chances; Kimbrel has blown three, Jacob Webb, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe, Keegan Akin, and Mike Baumann have each blown one. The bullpen is missing Felix Bautista at the back end, but he is out for all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October following that up with a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition procedure. Bautista being out led to the Orioles signing Craig Kimbrel who besides blowing three saves is 3-1 with a 4.73 ERA, a 4.21 FIP, a 1.50 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 13.1 innings and he has eight saves; it might be time for the Orioles to reevaluate the bullpen and shift Cano to the closer role and have Kimbrel for the seventh or eighth and add another reliever to solidify their bullpen so who might some options be?

Reliever Options

LHP – Tanner Scott – Miami Marlins

With the Marlins selling off assets and Scott being a free agent following the 2024 season he seems like a candidate to be traded rather soon and would be a decent addition to the Orioles where he spent the first five seasons of his career. This season through 15 appearances he is 1-4 with a 2.57 ERA, a 4.94 FIP, a 1.57 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings. For his career, he has appeared in 326 games going 23-22 with a 3.94 ERA, a 3.52 FIP, a 1.42 WHIP, a 0.8 HR/9, a 5.2 BB/9, and a 12.1 K/9.

RHP – Michael Kopech – Chicago White Sox

Kopech despite being a starter most of his career has been moved to the bullpen by the White Sox and to this point he is 1-3 in 16 appearances with a 4.69 FIP, a 1.25 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. For his career, even as a starter, he is 16-28 with a 4.31 ERA, a 5.00 FIP, a 1.34 WHIP, a 1.5 HR/9, a 4.7 BB/9, and a 9.8 K/9. Kopech could be a solid seventh or eighth-inning option.

RHP – Kyle Finnegan – Washington Nationals

Finnegan likely may not be moved right now unless the Nationals hit a skid that takes them out of everything completely but he wouldn’t be a bad addition, he’s 1-2 with a 1.65 ERA, a 4.26 FIP, a 0.85 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. For his career, he is 20-20 in 243 appearances with a 3.41 ERA, a 4.23 FIP, a 1.28 WHIP, a 1.2 HR/9, a 3.7 BB/9, and a 9.0 K/9.

RHP – Dylan Floro – Washington Nationals

Floro also on the Nationals could be a piece that’s moved and is also a free agent following this season. To this point, he has appeared in 17 games going 0-0 with a 0.49 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. For his career, he has made 347 appearances going 26-22 with a 3.27 ERA, a 3.07 FIP, a 1.30 WHIP, a 0.5 HR/9, a 2.9 BB/9, and an 8.3 K/9. He likely could be the seventh or eighth-inning guy for the Orioles but he has recorded 32 saves throughout his career.

RHP – Ryan Helsley – St. Louis Cardinals

Helsley could see himself moved with the Cardinals struggling among some of their bats, but he is under contract until 2025 so he could be a part of a bullpen with Bautista and Cano next season and he could close this season, he is 2-2 with a 1.50 ERA in 18 appearances with 11 saves, he has a 2.10 FIP, a 0.88 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings. For his career in 192 games, he is 23-12 with a 2.72 ERA, a 3.25 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, a 0.8 HR/9, a 3.6 BB/9, and a 10.6 K/9.

Wrap Up:

Do you agree the Orioles should look into adding a reliever and which option do you want them to go after, or is it someone that wasn’t mentioned maybe David Bednar or Aroldis Chapman? There are a lot of arms that could become available as the summer progresses, but the Orioles may look to add an arm now and one of those Marlins arms could be enticing enough to get the job done.