Jorge Lopez
The return of Jorge Lopez was another great story in Baltimore, it will likely come to a conclusion with the regular season. After being the O's sole representative in the 2022 all-star game, Lopez was traded to the Minnesota Twins. Many Oriole fans were upset that the team, who was beginning to show signs of life, traded its only all-star, but we now see the wisdom in it.
The return in the trade was centered around Cade Povich, but the Orioles received four pitching prospects from the Twins. Povich had a very good season in the minors while Yennier Cano, who also came over in that trade, became an all-star himself this season.
Lopez went on to struggle this season with the Twins and was again traded at the deadline, this time to the Miami Marlins. After further struggles in Miami, Lopez was released, and the Orioles signed him off of waivers on September 2.
Lopez has performed well at times and given the regular bullpen arms some rest, but he has not been able to return to his 2022 form, and like Kjerstad, Lopez was not on the roster prior to September so he will not be eligible for the playoffs.