Projecting Orioles 2026 Opening Day bullpen after first few weeks of spring training

Last season, the Baltimore Orioles jettisoned almost their entire bullpen at the trade deadline. It was expected that they'd have to get busy in the offseason to replace what they lost, but they largely stood pat, leaving lots of questions. Now, with less than a month before the season starts, the smoke is starting to clear around who will start the season in the Orioles bullpen.

Orioles may have more bullpen options for 2026 than previously thought

The locks

• Ryan Helsley
• Andrew Kittredge
• Keegan Akin

There are a few arms who were always going to make the team because of who they are and their contract situation. The Orioles did not acquire Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge to have them not make the team, and Keegan Akin is one of the Orioles' longest-tenured players. These guys will be on the team, book it.

The inside track

• Tyler Wells
• Dietrich Enns
• Yennier Cano

These are pitchers who will most likely make the team. The only reason Wells wouldn't be in the bullpen to start the season would be if the Orioles are determined to have him operate exclusively as a starter, in which case he could start the year in triple-A; otherwise, he'll be there. Enns pitched really well at the end of 2025 and got a notable vote of confidence from the front office in the form of his contract. Cano was an elite setup man not long ago, and as long as he's not getting lit up in spring training, the Orioles will give him another shot to find his form again.

Win and you're in

• Grant Wolfram
• Rico Garcia
• Yaramil Hiraldo

This is a case of three guys for, most likely, two spots. They are all largely unproven in the big leagues, have some nasty pitches that rate out well in metrics like stuff+, and have multiple minor league options. These guys will all appear on the Orioles at some point; it's just up to the coaching staff which of them gets the first shot. As long as none of these guys completely lose it in the next few weeks, they'll be part of the 2026 Orioles plans.

Converted starters

• Cade Povich
• Brandon Young

It's very possible that both of these guys could start the season in Triple-A as rotation depth. That would be especially disappointing for Cade Povich, who has pitched a lot in the majors over the past two seasons, but if he wants to remain a starter, that's the path. If the Orioles wanted to use Povich in the bullpen, he could be a viable option, especially vs lefties, but they have not indicated that that's something they're considering.

Outside track

• Chayce McDermott
• Jose Espada
• Albert Suarez

The Orioles clearly like all of these guys. They've been working with McDermott for years, Suarez was a great signing in 2024, and in an offseason where the Orioles have been DFAing and acquiring arms with reckless abandon, Espada has kept his 40-man spot. If they were to catch fire in spring training, it would be easy to see the Orioles finding a way to get them a roster spot. As is, it is likely they'll all start the season in Triple-A

Would take a heroic effort

• Anthony Nunez
• Cameron Foster

Because Nunez and Foster are both prospects who haven't made their MLB debut, the Orioles are certainly not in a rush to get them onto the Opening Day roster over some of the other arms they've brought in over the last few months. However, the fact that they are both on the 40-man roster leaves the door open for them to play their way onto the roster. They would have to really outperform the other pitchers, though, as in head-and-shoulders above the other bullpen arms on the team. Not likely, but possible.

The other guys

• Jackson Kowar
• Andrew Magno
• Eric Torres
• Josh Walker
• Jeisson Cabrera
• Hans Crouse
• Richard Guasch
• Jean Carlos Henríquez
• Enoli Paredes

These pitchers are at camp, mostly as non-roster invitees. They are not prospects; these are flawed journeymen. They are hoping to prove something to either the Orioles to earn a Triple-A roster spot or to another team to get signed to fill out a bullpen.