This free agent reliever could bail the Orioles out after Andrew Kittredge's injury

This offseason, the Baltimore Orioles skimped on the bullpen, bringing in only two external arms despite having traded away the majority of their bullpen at the previous trade deadline. It was a risky move that left the Orioles vulnerable to injury, and before the season started, injury did strike, taking down Andrew Kittredge, who was set to be the Orioles' primary setup man.

With Kittredge down, everyone else in the Orioles bullpen has to slide up a level in responsibility. Guys that shouldn't be in leverage spots will be, and guys that should be in the minors will be in the majors. That is, unless the Orioles add a bullpen arm who could handle some of the high-leverage innings that are up for grabs in the Orioles bullpen. At this point in the offseason, it can be difficult to swing a trade for such an arm, but fortunately for the Orioles, there is a reliever with high-leverage experience available on the free agent market at a discount right now.

Michael Kopech could fill the Andrew Kittredge sized void in the Orioles bullpen

Kopech has had a winding career. He made 60 starts during his time with the White Sox before converting to a relief role in 2024. When the Dodgers scooped him up at that trade deadline, everyone knew what was coming. As a Dodger, he pitched almost exclusively in high-leverage spots and performed very well, culminating in eight of his ten scoreless postseason appearances and pitching meaningful innings in every single World Series game the Dodgers won.

In 2025, injuries kept him out for most of the season; he was able to participate in only two separate two-week stretches, one in June and one in September. The Dodgers decided that he wasn't healthy enough to pitch in the postseason. That may have been the right decision, as his command wasn't what it was before the knee injury, but it's been nine months since Kopech's minor knee surgery, and he should be well recovered by now.

Even while struggling with injuries last season, Kopech's pitches still rated out very well by stuff+, and despite his command issues, the results were mostly good. Kopech isn't someone who relies on his command anyway; he just needs to keep his walk rate down in the low teens (still bad) as opposed to the mid twenties, where it was last year (hence the Dodgers deciding he couldn't pitch in the postseason). Assuming he's healthy enough to pitch at all, he'd slide right into the setup man role vacated by Kittredge.

Kopech has struggled with many injuries over his career, but after a full offseason, he should be healthy now, which is what the Orioles need the most. If Kopech is only able to pitch for a few weeks until Kittredge gets back, that could be worth it for the Orioles. There's also upside that if he stays healthy, once Kittredge returns, the Orioles would have a solid trio of veteran relievers in the back of their bullpen.

It likely wouldn't cost the Orioles much either. Kopech was projected to get either a one or two-year deal by most outlets, with an AAV in the high single digits to low double digits. That's right in the Mike Elias sweetspot for free agent contracts. At that price on a one-year deal, if Kopech is a disaster, they can just shelve him on the IL or cut him. It's a low-risk, high-reward move.