Orioles Rumors: Baltimore targeting Cardinals reliever that may be perfect fit

The Baltimore Orioles likely have completed the heavy-lifting portion of their offseason. Pete Alonso and Shane Baz being the big additions this winter, the Orioles also struck early in a trade for Taylor Ward and stabilized the bullpen by signing Ryan Helsley. In the weeks ahead, the Orioles will be on the hunt for opportunistic moves, and that could lead to a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

In case there was any doubt, the Cardinals' sending Willson Contreras to the Red Sox was a reminder that St. Louis is resetting ahead of 2026. While many are pointing to Nolan Arenado being the next domino to fall for the Cardinals, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's (subscription required) Derrick Goold reports that veteran reliever JoJo Romero is also being shopped. Among the teams interested, according to Goold, are the Orioles.

Trading for JoJo Romero would be an almost perfect cap to the Baltimore Orioles' offseason.

Between Felix Bautista, expected to miss most of next season, and the wrecking ball that was taken to the bullpen at the trade deadline, Baltimore needed to piece together their relief core this offseason.

Helsley, despite some struggles with the Mets to close out last season, will likely take Bautista's spot as the Orioles' closer next season, and Andrew Kittredge is back after spending the end of the season with the Chicago Cubs. The Orioles could still stand to use another high-leverage arm to the bullpen, and with the free-agent market drying up, a trade for someone like Romero would make sense.

Romero is projected to earn $4.4 million in his final year of arbitration, so from a financial end, a trade for the 29-year-old southpaw would still leave room for Baltimore to make another free-agent splash if they so choose.

Romero has been a model of consistency over the last three seasons, and 2025 marked the best season of his career. Romero posted a 2.07 ERA in 61 innings pitched with a ground ball rate of 54.5%. Romero keeps the ball in the park, and with only one year of control left, the Orioles should still be able to meet the Cardinals' asking price without jeopardizing the long-term outlook of their farm system.

It's comfortable living for the Orioles from here on out. There will be opportunities that pop up, like Romero, and they have the means to pursue them. But the rest of the offseason is on cruise control with the moves that have already been made.