Orioles insider just pointed out spring training battle no one is talking about (yet)

When it comes to Baltimore Orioles spring training, most fans agree that the competition for the team's bench is probably the one that will be the most heated. Not all of Colton Cowser, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Blaze Alexander, Ryan Mountcastle, Coby Mayo, Leody Taveras, and others are going to make the Opening Day roster, and that sets the stage for a real battle royale. However, that isn't the only roster battle that is set to unfold in Orioles camp.

Baltimore knew that they had to address their bullpen with Felix Bautista hurt again, and they did just that when they went out and signed Ryan Helsley. Between Helsley and incumbent Andrew Kittredge, the highest leverage situations seem pretty well-covered by the bullpen for the moment.

However, the other bullpen spots are much more speculative. As Orioles insider Josh Tolentino pointed out during a recent Orioles roundtable, Baltimore may need to do more work when it comes to their relief corps and their pitching staff as a whole before the bullpen is good to go for 2026.

Orioles' bullpen competition in spring training is shaping up to be of critical importance

Unless they get hurt, Helsley and Kittredge are going to be in the Opening Day bullpen. Kade Strowd should have been close to a lock to make it, but the front office decided to trade him to Arizona for a bench bat. After that, you have a sea of potential bullpen arms, including a bunch of familiar faces, but who also don't exactly inspire the most confidence.

If the Orioles' rotation was in a good place, that might be enough to at least start the season with and see who sticks and who needs to go. However, the Orioles have been unable to do much to bolster their starting pitching with the notable exception of trading for Shane Baz. The one thing you don't want, especially early in the season when pitchers are still getting fully stretched out and when you have a questionable rotation, is a questionable bullpen coming in behind them. Baltimore has to get their picks right, especially if it does end up standing pat.

Given the number of arms still available on the free agent market, combined with being able to scoop up guys that get cut during camp, the Orioles can still assemble a decent pitching staff. However, the rotation looks incomplete at the moment, and as Baltimore is about to find out, their bullpen is anything but settled.