The Orioles could use a reliever or two before the trade deadline, but a pair of internal options could step up their game in the second half.
The month of July brings fireworks, extreme temperatures and trade speculation every year. The fireworks have come and gone, but there’s a heat advisory today at Camden Yards. Oh yeah, the Orioles need some pitching too.
It’s somewhat rare for a team to be topping power rankings despite a clear need in both the rotation and bullpen. Baltimore’s pitching staff has been decimated by injury, and the loss of Félix Bautista still stings a year later.
Cade Povich will do his best, but it’s evident the Orioles do not have five starters worthy of trust in the postseason. Baltimore will almost certainly make a deal to help offset the loss of Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells. But how about in the bullpen?
Brandon Hyde could use another option, but this feels more complex. Will Mike Elias spring for a high-priced closer that slides everyone down a notch? Will he seek out a reclamation project to avoid parting with top-tier prospects? Will he put together a package that yields both a starter and reliever in the same deal?
We won’t know until we know. In the meantime, can the Orioles expect improvement from the relievers already on the roster?
Baltimore’s bullpen ranks in the middle of the pack with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.160 WHIP. Craig Kimbrel has settled into the closer role and pitched at an All-Star caliber level. Kimbrel holds a 5-2 record, 2.10 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 34.1 innings. He’s converted 23 of 27 save opportunities, and he’s only allowed two homers on the season.
Kimbrel deserves credit for navigating a brief rough patch and stabilizing the back end. He’s pitching to his potential at this point in his Hall-of-Fame career, and it’s difficult to ask more from the 36-year-old right now.
Jacob Webb may not carry the same pedigree as Kimbrel, but he fits the mold of another reliever maxing out his value this season. Webb entered the year as a former waiver claim that could collapse at any point, but he’s been an absolute rock in the first half. Webb holds a 1.134 WHIP and 2.72 ERA over 39.2 innings this season. He’s often the first reliever to enter the game, and he’s done a fine job bridging the gap to the back end of the bullpen.
That back end does feature a pair of pitchers that could take a step forward in the second half. Yennier Cano didn’t even break camp with the Orioles last year but he still managed to join Bautista at the All-Star game. Cano posted a 1.48 ERA with 38 strikeouts and only six walks in the first half last season. He finished 2023 with a 2.11 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.
Cano currently holds a 2.89 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 37.1 innings pitched. He has already walked five more batters than he did last season despite almost half the workload. Additionally, his five homers allowed already top the four long balls in 2023.
The spike in homers and walks point to a lack of control. Cano can reach another gear if he consistently locates at the bottom of the zone.
Cionel Pérez fits with Cano as another reliever that could improve in the second half. Pérez currently qualifies as a replacement-level reliever (0.0 bWAR) with a 3.81 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The numbers are a far cry from his 7-1 record and 1.40 ERA over 66 games in 2022. The Birds would love to see Pérez return to that level, but the team would settle for somewhere in the middle.
Any reliever can get hot, but Pérez feels like a guy that could flip the switch at any point. His 2.98 FIP sits nearly a full run lower than his ERA, so Pérez should experience better results as the sample size continues to grow.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to see the remainder of the bunch stepping forward. Keegan Akin has top notch stuff, but he’s never put together a full season. Injuries have prevented Dillon Tate from carving out a steady role in the past, and it’s difficult to see Tate materializing as a trusted reliever moving forward. Byran Baker’s return from Triple-A has been fun, but there’s a reason the organization left him down there for so long.
Danny Coulombe hasn’t pitched since June 8, and the organization says he will not return until September. Coulombe was absolutely terrific for the Orioles with a 2.42 ERA and 0.615 WHIP over 26 innings, and the Birds have felt his loss in a big way.
A healthy Coulombe would definitely boost the bullpen, but a rehabbing reliever cannot be plan A. Coulombe underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow back in June, and he’ll likely require a rehab stint before potentially returning down the stretch.
The Orioles hope Coulombe can provide another option for a flourishing group at the end of the season. A deadline deal would help the cause, but so would a boost from Cano and Pérez.