"Kittredge, 36 later this month, spent the bulk of the 2025 season with Baltimore after signing a one-year, $10MM contract in free agency. The O's flipped him to the Cubs in July, netting teenage shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz in that deadline swap. Chicago then traded Kittredge back to Baltimore following the season, before the decision on his 2026 club option was due."
"In 53 innings (31 1/3 in Baltmore, 21 2/3 in Chicago) he pitched to a combined 3.40 earned run average with a big 30.8% strikeout rate and tidy 5.3% walk rate. He kept 49.2% of the batted balls against him on the ground and recorded an excellent 14.7% swinging-strike rate. Kittredge tallied 15 holds and five saves; he was only charged with one blown save on the season."
"The O's are already without closer Félix Bautista for most or all of the 2026 season after he underwent shoulder surgery in late August. The Orioles signed Ryan Helsley two a two-year deal (the second season being a player option) to fill Bautista's role. Kittredge would've been one of the primary setup options to begin the season, but those opportunities will now fall to a combination of Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin and perhaps some other in-house arms."
Andrew Kittredge, a 36-year-old setup man, is sidelined by shoulder inflammation and unlikely to be available for the Orioles' Opening Day, with a season-opening injured list stint appearing probable. The veteran pitcher was re-acquired by Baltimore after being traded to the Cubs mid-season, and the team exercised his $9MM option for 2026. During 2025, Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA across 53 innings with strong peripherals including a 30.8% strikeout rate and 14.7% swinging-strike rate. His absence compounds the Orioles' bullpen challenges, as closer Félix Bautista is also recovering from shoulder surgery. The team signed Ryan Helsley to replace Bautista and will rely on Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, and other internal options for setup duties early in the season.
#orioles-bullpen #andrew-kittredge-injury #mlb-roster-moves #relief-pitching #2026-season-preparation
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