I know some thought DL Hall was going to be given a shot at the rotation this year, but in all likelihood he was heading to pen to be an impact left-handed reliever. Now I’m 100% behind the Corbin Burnes trade, but let’s not sell short on the fact that the bullpen just lost a valuable piece.
Now maybe Elias is not done. He’s still got Colton Cowser, Connor Norby, Heston Kjerstad, Kyle Stowers as backed up major league ready players with Coby Mayo and Jackson Holliday perhaps being ready or ready soon.
I’d really like to see him acquire an impact reliever, but time is running short, so let’s take a look at the current bullpen right now.
This is how Fangraphs’ roster resource projects the Orioles bullpen.
Those projected ERAs don’t make you feel too good for sure. Whether we agree with the projected ERAs or not, what is clear is there is a clear lack of impact relievers in the pen and Hall for me was one of those guys I would have projected as a high leverage guy for his ability to miss bats.
Now personally, I think Cole Irvin will make the team as a long reliever vs either Tate or Baumann. Tate still has options and Tyler Wells could take his spot anyways, but Baumann would have to clear waivers so he probably will be given a middle relief job unless he implodes in spring training.
So here’s how I see the bullpen right now:
Locks:
Closer: Craig Kimbrel – He’s a drop off from Bautista but his number were actually pretty good last year after a dreadful start that saw him lose his closer duties for awhile. Let’s hope he doesn’t get off to another poor start. He also had a meltdown game in the World Series.
Setup: Yennier Cano – A groundball machine, he’s a great guy to bring in for that double play, but he doesn’t miss bats enough to be a great impact setup guy.
Setup/MR: Cionel Perez – The lefthanded version of Cano in that gets lots of groundballs, but doesn’t miss enough bats. Plus, his command can be shaky from outing to outing sometimes.
Setup/MR: Danny Coulombe – A great story last year, he was really good in the 1st half, but fell back a bit in the second half when he didn’t miss as many bats. He’s probably better matching up earlier.
Set/MR/LR: Tyler Wells – Unless there is an injury, this Wells is going to be in the bullpen and he could be used in many roles. He dominated in his five relief outings after coming back from AAA, but he didn’t miss a ton of bats and we all know he can be homer prone at times, so is he the guy you want in the 8th inning holding a one-run lead?
Other Candidates:
Setup/MR: Dillon Tate – Who actually knows what you can expect from Tate after missing all of 2023 with right elbow/forearm injuries? Tate reportedly “Looks unbelievable” according to manager Brandon Hyde after seeing him in some workouts in January, but he’ll be 30-years old this year and has never been a guy who misses many bats. He has two options available as well so he could be sent back to AAA for depth in order to keep guys out of options.
MR/LR: Mike Baumann – Speaking of one of those guys with no options, Baumann is a guy who will not make it through waivers so he’s got a great chance at claiming a bullpen spot. Another guy who doesn’t miss bats at a high rate, he’s better in that 5th/6th inning role and hopefully will be used in more two inning outings vs the one inning or less he was used in most of his appearances.
MR/LR: Cole Irvin – With five right-handed starters in the rotation, having a left-handed long guy is important in my estimation and Irvin pitched quite well in the role last year after struggling with command in the rotation early last year.
MR: Jacob Webb – Another guy with no options, Webb might be remembered by some for giving up the homers in the playoffs against the Rangers (after giving up none with the Orioles in the regular season), but he actually pitched quite well for the Orioles after being claimed on waivers last August. He’s in competition with Tate and Baumann for that last spot in the pen unless the Orioles decide to send Irvin back to be AAA starter depth.
LR: Bruce Zimmermann – The forgotten man on the 40-man roster, the left-handed starter/long reliever will need an injury to find his way onto the 26-man roster to start the year. He still has one option left and will most likely by AAA starting pitching/long relief depth.
MR/LR: Keegan Akin – Almost forgot about this lefty but he’s still on the 40-man roster and his slight chances of making the team did slightly improve when Hall was traded. He could not follow up on his breakout 2022 season and was eventually sent back to AAA where he eventually was shutdown due to an injury in late July. Rehabbed and made some late appearances, but wasn’t brought back up in September. He has an option left so he’s ticketed for AAA without some injuries occuring.
MR: Bryan Baker – Baker actually wasn’t that bad in 2023, but did manage to get himself optioned in late July when the Orioles needed a fresh arm and only found his way back for one three inning appearance in September. With an option left, it’s going to be tough for him to find his way onto the team without injury, especially with Baumann and Webb in competition for that last spot in the bullpen.
MR: Nick Vespi – Back in the day when teams would keep a LOOGY because they were allowed to face less than three batters, Vespi would have a chance with his ability to dominate lefties. The problem is he has to face righties too. He’s a DFA candidate if the team’s needs a 40-man roster spot but with an option remaining, he’ll be left-handed relief depth in Norfolk.
At the end of the day, while there is some quality pitchers here, the Orioles are in need of another shutdown high leverage reliever. Perhaps packaging Baumann with Norby would bring someone back or maybe they will have to add others, but with a rotation that looks as good as any Orioles rotation in 30 years or more, it would be ashamed to see a bullpen blow too many leads because they didn’t get that guy.