Orioles make waiver claim for lefty pitcher

With the World Series about to get underway, the Orioles are in the offseason, planning for what appears to be another deep playoff run in store for next year. They didn't waste time to start, having already signed a pitcher to a minor league contract last week.

On Wednesday morning, they made another addition in the pitching ranks. The team announced that they claimed Tucker Davidson from the Kansas City Royals after he was placed on waivers. No corresponding move was needed to make room on the 40 man roster for Davidson.

Orioles make another pitching addition by claiming Tucker Davidson off waivers

Davidson spent 2023 with two different teams. He started the year in the AL West with the Los Angeles Angels. There, he posted a 6.54 ERA, 3.35 FIP, and 1.737 WHIP, making 18 relief appearances and throwing 31 2/3 innings, even picking up two saves.

The Angels designated Davidson for assignment after that, trading him to the Royals for cash considerations. Davidson appeared in 20 games and made one start for Kansas City, posting a 5.03 ERA, 5.75 FIP, and 1.424 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings for the Royals.

Davidson did a good job of limiting hard contact from opposing hitters, ranking in the 81st percentile in that category in 2023. He had a 44.2 percent ground ball rate and 8.1 percent walk rate, both right around league average. He doesn't have a lot of velocity and doesn't miss bats, with his strikeout percentage in the 23rd percentile and his average fastball velocity in the 13th percentile.

Davidson comes to the Orioles with plenty of team control remaining. 2024 serves as his last season of pre-arb, making him arbitration eligible ahead of the 2025 season. He's eligible for free agency after the 2027 season. He had already agreed to a contract for 2024, which pays him $770,000.

So far, Davidson has played for the Royals, Angels, and the Atlanta Braves in the majors. He's combined to post a 5.98 ERA, 5.09 ERA, and 1.616 WHIP, throwing 125 innings across 17 starts and 38 relief appearances.

One thing to keep an eye on with Davidson is the fact that he has no minor league options left. If the Orioles wish to send him to Norfolk, they'll have to DFA him and likely expose him to the waiver wire again. That is a problem the Orioles can deal with in spring training. For now, Davidson is the newest member of the Orioles organization.