The Baltimore Orioles had an active offseason, but it fell short of delivering the blockbuster move many fans had anticipated, especially as they saw Corbin Burnes join the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Orioles quietly made significant moves by acquiring outfielder Tyler O’Neill, relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge, Japanese starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, and seasoned veteran Charlie Morton.
Let’s dive into each acquisition and see how they’ll impact the O’s this season.
Tyler O’Neill
If last season was any indication, left fielder Tyler O’Neill should bring some power to the Orioles’ lineup. O’Neill signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract during the offseason. He adds balance to Baltimore’s roster with another right-handed bat and much-needed home run potential following Anthony Santander’s departure to the Toronto Blue Jays.
O’Neill is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 31 RBIs. Two major questions surrounding this signing are: Can O’Neill stay healthy, and will his numbers improve further with the left-field wall being moved in this offseason?
Sky’s Out, Ty’s Out pic.twitter.com/TLY5OIcyhU
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) February 27, 2025
Andrew Kittredge
The acquisition of Andrew Kittredge was one of the more overlooked moves by Elias and has the potential to provide significant value during the playoff push by adding another reliable arm to the bullpen. Unfortunately, things have taken a challenging turn as Kittredge requires left knee debridement surgery and will be sidelined for several months, according to manager Brandon Hyde.
This isn’t the ideal debut for the pitcher the Orioles signed to a one-year, $10 million deal. However, there’s a silver lining—if the 34-year-old right-hander can return by the All-Star break, he could become a key asset in their bullpen as a high-leverage reliever. Last year, Kittredge delivered a standout performance for the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a career-best 2.80 ERA across 70 innings with 37 holds.
Paired with Yennier Cano, Cionel Pérez, and Felix Bautista, the Orioles’ bullpen is showing strong potential. Although Bautista’s return date remains uncertain, Elias expressed optimism during Spring Training about the bullpen’s progress. This is an encouraging sign for a fan base still recovering from last season’s struggles, including Craig Kimbrel’s challenges on the mound.
The first half of Andrew Kittredge's windup is basically a drunk uncle throwing a wiffleball at a family picnic. pic.twitter.com/ULoKmVYH5w
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2024
Tomoyuki Sugano
Tomoyuki Sugano is quickly proving to be a player worth watching. During his first bullpen session of spring training, he left a strong impression—a promising start to his MLB journey. While early sessions don’t always predict season-long success, it’s exciting to dream about the impact he could make in his debut season.
Orioles fans have plenty of reasons to be hopeful, as they anticipate that Sugano could provide much-needed stability to their starting rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander boasts an outstanding career with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). During his tenure, he earned the Central League Most Valuable Player award three times and claimed the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award, recognizing him as the league’s top pitcher.
The key questions surrounding Sugano are: How will his arm adapt to the demands of a Major League schedule, pitching every fifth day instead of every sixth as in Japan? Will the Orioles adjust their rotation to accommodate this transition?
Interesting tidbit: The American League Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with Jasson Dominguez leading the pack, followed by Kristian Campbell, Jackson Jobe, and Roman Anthony, according to FanDuel SportsBook. With no clear frontrunner in sight, Sugano might be a worthwhile dark horse candidate—similar to Shota Imanaga’s breakout performance for the Cubs last season.
Watch new @Orioles pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano dominate MLB All-Stars in the 2017 World Baseball Classic 👀 pic.twitter.com/vyZGdTAxjM
— MLB (@MLB) December 17, 2024
Charlie Morton
If history serves as a guide, the Orioles could be in for something special with Charlie Morton. The last time general manager Mike Elias brought Morton on board, he played a key role in leading the Houston Astros to a World Series championship.
At 41 years old, Morton has signed a one-year, $15 million contract. His career highlight came at age 35 with the Rays, where he delivered a stellar 3.05 ERA, secured 16 wins, and placed third in Cy Young voting. Though the Orioles currently lack a true ace, Morton brings invaluable experience as a two-time World Series champion and a steady veteran presence.
This signing will be deemed successful if he can stabilize the back end of the rotation and deliver another 160+ innings, as he has consistently done over the past two seasons.
Orioles sign RHP Charlie Morton to 1-year deal. pic.twitter.com/IPYvcT5ivy
— MLB (@MLB) January 3, 2025
