Orioles news: O's linked to former Yankees closer, ink rehab project starting pitcher

Earlier this week, Bleacher Report sent out their list of the top-25 MLB free agents with predicted landing spots and salary projections. The Orioles were connected to a number of players, most of which we've seen before. One name that stood out as a potential new face is former Yankees closer Clay Holmes.

The Orioles are expected to get their own star closer, Felix Bautista, back before the start of spring training next February. Bautista looked good during a bullpen session that he shared on Instagram, and all signs point toward him returning to the stud that O's fans know and love.

However, that doesn't mean there isn't space left in the bullpen for 2025. Yes, Seranthony Dominguez is returning but based on his erratic results this past summer, he isn't guaranteed to stick in the back of the bullpen - he'll have to earn the spot.

That's all to say that there will be ample opportunity for someone to step into a high-leverage role next year. Holmes could potentially be that guy, if the Orioles want to pay up for him. Bleacher Report suggested that Holmes could earn a two-year deal worth $24 million. It would be a significant pay bump from the $6 million he made this year, but his performance warrants the raise.

Holmes has pitched to a combined 2.85 ERA over the last three years with the Yankees. In that time, he's notched 74 saves in just under 190 innings. The Orioles could use that kind of stability in the bullpen, so even though Holmes could be expensive, the investment might prove worth it.

Orioles sign former Phillies and Marlins prospect to minor league contract

On Thursday afternoon, the Orioles announced that they'd signed pitcher Robinson Martinez to a minor league contract. The oft-injured righty treaded water after signing with the Phillies back in 2015, spending four seasons stuck in Rookie ball before finally getting shipped up to Low-A in 2019.

During that 2019 season, Martinez was one of three Phillies prospects to receive a 25-game suspension for violating the league's Drug Prevention and Treatment program.

Early in his career, Martinez struggled to find the strike zone. By the end of 2019, based on the stats and the suspension, the Phillies has seen about enough. After missing the Covid-shortened 2020 season, he wound up in the Marlins' system ahead of 2021. Martinez pitched well in that first season at Single-A but the results weren't quite there in the following year.

Martinez missed essentially all of 2023 and 2024 with what seems to be an elbow sprain, though there doesn't seem to be a record of him having undergone surgery to correct any issues. He did pitch in the most recent Dominican Winter league, throwing 4.1 innings for Leones del Escogido. The Orioles clearly feel confident that he's healthy enough to roll the dice on his performance in 2025. Whether it'll work out in Baltimore's favor remains to be seen.