Out-of-options reliever in roster limbo ahead of Orioles Opening Day

We're less than a full day away from the Orioles taking the field and facing off against the Blue Jays to get the 2025 season underway. Despite being on the cusp of the season, there are still a couple decisions that need to be made in regards to Thursday's roster.

Chief among them is who the Orioles will select to fill out the final bullpen spot. As it stands, there are three players who could fill the spot. All of Bryan Baker, Matt Bowman, and Roansy Contreras are in contention for the roster spot, and it's unclear how the Orioles are going to proceed even with so little time left before they're forced to make a choice.

Baker was the best of the three during spring training and he's had some success in the majors in recent years. His 3.77 FIP in 2024 was overshadowed by poor results, as he pitched to a 5.01 ERA in 23.1 major league innings. However, he posted a combined 3.53 ERA in the 2022-2023 seasons, getting up to 114.2 innings pitched in that time frame.

Has Bryan Baker's time in Baltimore come to a close?

Because Baker is out of minor league options, and the fact that he got off to a hot start in spring, there was some expectation that he'd be the primary choice for the final bullpen spot on Opening Day.

To Baker's dismay, this weekend the Orioles announced that they'd selected the contract of Matt Bowman in a corresponding move after Tyler Wells was shifted to the 60-day IL. Wells is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Bowman pitched well for the Orioles in 2024, posting a 3.45 ERA in 15.1 innings in the final months of the season. He was outrighted off the roster after the end of the year and he elected free agency, but came back to Baltimore on a minor league contract and now finds himself on the 40-man once again.

Bowman struck out 12 batters in 8.2 innings this spring and issued just 2 walks. He's never been a lockdown type of guy, nor has he been a strikeout specialist, but it's possible that the O's have unlocked something here.

At the moment, it seems likely that Bowman will start the year in Baltimore and Baker will be subjected to waivers and potentially a minor league assignment, if he goes unclaimed. Contreras is still technically in the mix but is a long shot candidate and is certainly behind the other two in terms of roster viability. With a number of capable arms in the mix, it's possible that we've seen the last of Bryan Baker in an Orioles uniform.