Orioles right-hander Andrew Kittredge Shoulder inflammation has slowed him down and he likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, coach Craig Albernaz announced on the team’s win this morning (via Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com). A season-opening IL stint for the veteran setup man seems likely.
Kittredge, 36 later this month, spent most of the 2025 season in Baltimore after signing a one-year, $10 million contract as a free agent. The O’s traded him to the Cubs in July for the teenage shortstop to score. Wilfri de la Cruz In that deadline exchange. Chicago traded Kittredge. in the back He transferred to Baltimore after the season and before his 2026 club option was determined. The O’s sent cash back to the Cubs in the second swap and immediately exercised Kittredge’s $9MM option.
The hope at the time of re-acquisition was that Kittredge could again play a key role in the late innings at Camden Yards. Although his 2025 season was delayed by surgery to remove tissue from his knee during spring training, Kittredge was sharp when he was on the mound. In 53 innings (31 1/3 at the Boltmore and 21 2/3 at Chicago), he posted a combined 3.40 ERA with a 30.8% strikeout rate and 5.3% walk rate. He kept 49.2% of balls hit against him on the ground and had an excellent swing-strike rate of 14.7%. Kittredge had 15 holds and five saves. He was charged with only one blown save on the season.
There’s no place closer to the O’s already. Felix Bautista For most or all of the 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in late August. (Kubatko noted that although he pitched for the first time since surgery yesterday, he still has a long rehabilitation process ahead of him.) The Orioles made a deal. Ryan Helsley The second is a two-year deal (player option for a second season) to fill Bautista’s role. Kittredge was one of the default options to start the season, but those opportunities now fall to combinations of: Yenier Cano, Keegan Akin And there are probably other in-house departments that go a step further.
One such possibility is right-handedness Tyler WellsHe has been officially notified (via Jake Rill of MLB.com) that he will pitch in relief this season. Albernaz called Wells his “Swiss Army knife.” He can pitch in almost any role, including rotation, long relief, and high-pressure late innings. “He can make an impact,” Albernaz said of Wells. “He’s got the ingredients, he’s got the makeup.”
Wells, 31, came from the Twins to the Orioles via the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He was solid in a low-leverage relief role as a rookie in 2021, then primarily as a starter in 2022-23, posting a 3.93 ERA in 222 1/3 innings for Baltimore. Injuries have since derailed him. He has pitched only seven times in the major leagues over the past two seasons due to a UCL tear that required surgery.
Fifty of Wells’ last 55 major league appearances have been starts, but he will move back into a relief role and hopes to emerge as a contributor out of a bullpen that will need some work to be done this season. The O’s are hoping for a rebound from Helsley, who had a terrible finish to the 2025 season after being traded to the Mets. They’re also hoping the aforementioned Cano can bounce back. Although he won’t be in 2023 All-Star form, he will at least be closer to his 2024 output (3.15 ERA) than his 2025 results (5.12 ERA).
Healthy and productive Wells can help in a short-term relief role. Wells averaged 92-93 mph with his heater as a starter, but he averaged better than 95 mph on the pitch in 2021. His career 11.6% swing-strike rate is slightly above average, but he hit 13.3% during that lone bullpen season. Wells has shown good command at 6.2 BB% over his major league career, but his 29% strikeout rate as a rookie reliever is much higher than his career 22.8%.
injured second baseman jackson holiday He also provided an update to reporters, revealing that he will begin swinging the bat tomorrow (link via Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner). He also started throwing last week.
Holliday suffered a hamate bone fracture in his right hand/wrist early in camp and underwent surgery to correct the problem (removing the broken “ring” from the bone in question). This is a common injury and procedure for position players, and the recovery period tends to be between four and eight weeks. Although Holiday is expected to miss the start of the season, his return may not be too far away during the regular season. with holiday Jordan Westberg Before the season begins, the O’s will switch to the following combination: Kobe Mayo, blaise alexander, Jeremiah Jackson, Brian Ramos And a non-department veteran. Tyro Estrada At second and third base earlier this year.
