3 under-the-radar relievers the Orioles should consider adding at trade deadline

The trade deadline is quickly approaching and the Orioles have some major holes to fill. The starting rotation has been the talk of the town over the past few weeks, but the bullpen could use some additions as well. Here are three under the radar bullpen arms that could help shore up the Orioles bullpen.

Rangers' reliever David Robertson would be a strong addition to an inexperienced Orioles bullpen

The 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers have had a tough first half in 2024. They currently sit at 38-46, and are a staggering eight games back in the Wild Card race. If the Rangers don't pick it up in the next few weeks, they could look to move off of some of their veteran players. David Robertson would be a prime candidate for a trade.

The Rangers bullpen has struggled mightily this season, holding the 5th worst bullpen ERA in the majors. However, Robertson has been having yet another fantastic season. At 39 years old, Robertson continues to put up great numbers as a setup man for the Rangers. He has a 3.34 ERA with 54 strikeouts in just 35 innings this season.

Robertson has always been a big strikeout pitcher, but his 13.89 K/9 is the highest of his 16 year career. His advanced numbers are terrific as well. His 37.5% strikeout rate puts him in the 99th percentile, while his ground ball rates and expected ERA are in the 91st percentile.

Another added bonus is that Robertson has plenty of postseason experience, and he's fared well in October. He owns an ERA of 3.04 in 47.1 innings pitched. He also has 176 saves in his career, so if Craig Kimbrel has another rough stretch, Robertson could easily fill his shoes. Robertson would be a cheap, yet productive addition to the O's bullpen.

Pending free agent Carlos Estevez could be the setup man the Orioles need

Like Robertson, Carlos Estevez has been a bright spot in a poor bullpen. The Angels are comfortably out of postseason contention and should operate as one of the clear sellers at the trade deadline. So, Estevez could be on the move.

Estevez was an All-Star in 2023 and has been productive once again in 2024. He has a 3.00 ERA this year and has recorded 27 strikeouts in 27 innings. Meanwhile, his command has been tremendous, allowing just three walks thus far. This has led to a minuscule 0.81 WHIP on the season.

Estevez has been the primary closer during his time with the Angels, recording 47 saves over the past two seasons. The Orioles don't have an immediate need at closer, but having another option for the 9th inning wouldn't hurt.

Rays setup man Jason Adam would provide a significant boost for the Orioles bullpen

Jason Adam would be a welcomed addition to the Orioles 'pen, but there could be some road blocks in the process. For starters, the Rays are a division rival of the Orioles, so there could be some hesitancy to make a move. Also, the Rays aren't out of the playoff race, sitting four games back of the second wild card spot. However, we've seen the Orioles and Rays do business in the past, most recently in 2022.

The addition of Adam would provide yet another high-quality set up option for Brandon Hyde. Adam is having a great season once again, holding an ERA of just 2.00 in 36 innings pitched. His strikeout numbers aren't super high (35 on the season), but his whiff percentage sits in the 96th percentile.

Adam has four extremely strong pitches, each with an opponent batting average below .200. This has led to just 19 hits allowed in 36 innings. In his past three season with the Rays, Adam has had an ERA below 3.00 in each season, and he had a 1.56 ERA in 2022. He's quietly been one of the most productive relievers in baseball over the past three seasons.