The Orioles are reportedly beefing up their bullpen with an arm who the team should be very familiar with: Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge is reportedly joining the team on a one-year deal, giving the O’s another powerful to use in the late innings.
A Look at Kittredge
The Cardinals picked up Andrew Kittredge a year ago via trade from the Rays. St. Louis dealt utilityman Richie Palacios to Tampa, while the Cards received a rather effective reliever. Kittredge struck out 68 over 70.2 IP and worked primarily as a setup man to Ryan Helsley.
Kittredge was one of the best relievers — and pitchers overall — in terms of getting hitters to chase. In fact, his 38.9% Chase% ranked in the 100th percentile last season per Statcast. Additionally, Kittredge ranked above the league in average in Whiff%, GB%, and mean extension.
The new Oriole is a very difficult pitcher to square up. Part of the reason is because Kittredge has a devastating slider, a pitch with visible late movement on video, making it very difficulty for hitters to square it up. That pitch for Kittredge last season yielded a 41.3% Whiff% rate and a .177 opp. batting average.
The 34-year-old primarily uses a sinker as his secondary offering. However, he’ll also use a four-seamer, one with natural cutting action.
Kittredge returns to the AL East, a place where he succeeded greatly just a short time ago with the Rays. The new Oriole was a 2021 AL All-Star, in a season in which Kittredge struck out 77 over 71.2 IP and a 1.88 ERA.
Per reports, the Orioles are signing Andrew Kittredge to a one-year deal worth $10MM.
Analysis
While the Orioles’ rotation was a strength in 2024, their bullpen didn’t put up similar results. Orioles relievers finished 23rd in the league in bullpen ERA (4.22), a number that was poor, yet doesn’t fully explain how much the O’s had trouble finishing games.
Craig Kimbrel, who replaced Felix Bautista as closer to start 2024, struggled with command. Baltimore got better results from Seranthony Dominguez after the O’s acquired him in the summer. Still, bullpen depth is critical for any contender.
And given the Orioles lost ace Corbin Burnes in the offseason and won’t have Kyle Bradish in 2025, having relievers who can gets outs in the sixth and seventh innings will be even more important.
Baltimore re-shaped the bullpen early this offseason, by cutting loose Jacob Webb and Danny Coulombe. Coulombe was very good in 2024 but the O’s have three left-handed relievers — Keegan Akin, Gregory Soto, and Cionel Perez — on roster. Webb was also good. However, Kittredge, who’s deceptive and has better overall stuff, is an upgrade.
Kittredge does a better job of jamming hitters and getting chases and whiffs. Webb was dicey at times over the last two seasons, as he had a BB% north of 10% in 2023-24.