On November 4, 1975, Orioles ace Jim Palmer becomes the first American League pitcher to win two outright Cy Young Awards, following his 1973 triumph. He posted a career‑high 23 wins, 10 shutouts and a 2.09 ERA, outpacing runner‑up Catfish Hunter by 24 voting points. Despite a rough 1974 injury‑plagued season, Palmer rebounded with a dominant 1975, earning AL Player of the Month and a rare 12‑inning, two‑run no‑decision win. The Hall of Fame piece highlights his historic achievement and sets up his third Cy Young win in 1976.
Despite a chaotic career path, right‑hander Xzavion Curry surprised the New York Mets in 2026. Signed to a minor‑league deal in May after flailing with the Marlins, Rockies and a Mexican League team, Curry posted a 4.74 ERA in 49.1 Triple‑A innings before his July call‑up. In the majors he logged nine appearances (one start) with a 5.48 ERA over 21.1 innings, but excluding a disastrous three‑inning, six‑run outing against Baltimore, his MLB ERA drops to 3.44. He led Syracuse’s rotation with a 3.36 ERA in 72.1 innings and struck out 41. At 28, Curry’s odd‑ball season may earn him another year in affiliated baseball.
After a disastrous start to the 2026 season, including a six‑run first inning against Baltimore on June 4 that pushed his ERA to 6.34, right‑hander Brayan Bello was sent down to Worcester to “fall in love with baseball again.” The minor‑league stint sparked a turnaround: from July 12 to August 29 he allowed just eight earned runs in 33.2 innings, cut his walk rate, and boosted his strikeout velocity. Bello capped the comeback with a dominant 8‑inning, 1‑ER, 11‑strikeout performance against the Yankees on September 19, tying a career high and positioning himself as a potential ALDS starter for the Red Sox. The article chronicles his struggle, demotion, and resurgence.
Grant Wolfram, the 28‑year‑old left‑hander acquired from Milwaukee in April 2025, became a workhorse for the Orioles in 2026, appearing in 60 games – the third‑most on the staff. He posted a modest 4.30 ERA and 1.318 WHIP, but his FIP of 0.95 early in the season revealed bad luck on a .500 BABIP and a stellar 20‑K/1‑BB line over 13 innings. After a brief IL stint for a back strain, Wolfram delivered solid June/July splits (combined 4.15 ERA, two outings accounting for most runs) and limited opponents to a .182/.250/.212 line in June. With a 95 mph fastball, 10.5 K/9 and only one homER all year, he remains a cheap, veteran lefty option for Baltimore heading into the offseason.
As free agency begins, which players could wind up in Baltimore?
The Baltimore Orioles clear space on their 40-man roster ahead of the looming MLB lockout, parting ways with two former first‑round picks. Long‑time first baseman Ryan Mountcastle sees his $7.5 million option declined after a decade with the club, ending with a .263/.312/.438 line, 98 homers and a 2026 season cut short by a foot fracture. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick, is outrighted and becomes a free agent following health setbacks and a brief, injury‑marred 2026 stint. The O’s also released Leody Taveras, Yohel Pozo and Dietrich Enns, while extending a qualifying offer to Trevor Rogers.
Orioles front office Mike Elias and new GM Jared Banner kick off a roster overhaul before the Dec. 1 lockout. Highlights: the club declines Ryan Mountcastle’s $7.5 M option, lets outfielder Leody Taveras (56 RBIs) into free agency, and extended a $23.15 M qualifying offer to left‑hander Trevor Rogers, who must decide by Nov. 17. Prospects Heston Kjerstad, catcher Yohel Pozo and right‑hander Yosver Zueleta clear waivers and become free agents. Left‑hander Dietrich Enns takes a $125 K buyout. The 40‑man roster swells to 37 with four IL returns (Bradish, Helsley, O’Neill, Westburg) and four waiver acquisitions (Josh White, Philip Abner, Zach Morgan, Chase Hampton). With a thin free‑agent pool, Baltimore is set for a busy four‑week scramble.
Mike Elias repeatedly cuts and re‑signs reliever Albert Suárez despite a 3‑0 record and 3.86 ERA because the Orioles anticipate no other team will claim him, making him a low‑cost, reliable bullpen arm. The puzzling waiver claim on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who posted a .267 average and .841 OPS with six homers for the Mets in August, backfired, leaving Baltimore with a $5 million commitment for limited impact. The article also touches on Coby Mayo’s ability to hire private coaches during a lockout, noting that shorter spring training hampers position changes. Readers get inside the Orioles’ roster gambles and financial risks.
Eight MLB players receive $23.15 million qualifying offers, according to Joel Sherman (NY Post). The list includes Randy Arozarena (Mariners), Jake Bauers (Brewers), David Bednar (Yankees), Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Brandon Lowe (Pirates), Adrián Morejón (Padres), Trevor Rogers (Orioles) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs). Players have until 3 p.m. CT on Nov 17 to accept or reject, and can negotiate elsewhere in the meantime. If they sign elsewhere, the original club gets draft‑pick compensation while the new club faces penalties. The article notes the rarity of relievers like Bednar and Morejón receiving QOs and highlights the Padres’ new ownership context.
The Orioles have placed a $23.15 million qualifying offer on left‑hander Trevor Rogers, giving him until Nov. 17 to accept a one‑year deal. Rogers posted a 10‑11 record with a 4.03 ERA in 30 games this season after winning the 2025 Oriole MVP (9‑3, 1.81 ERA). If he declines, Baltimore will earn a compensation pick from his new team. The club also declined 2027 options on Ryan Mountcastle and Dietrich Enns and refreshed its 40‑man roster with Kyle Bradish, Ryan Helsley, Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Westburg.
The Orioles announced that they have declined a $3.5MM club option on left-hander Dietrich Enns. He will receive a $125K buyout. More to come.
The Mets officially open free agency by adding infielder Christian Cairo (one‑year split deal) and claiming right‑handers Jack Anderson and Pierson Ohl off waivers, then quickly DFAing Cairo and new signee Kyren Paris. Cairo, a 25‑year‑old former Phillies Triple‑A player, posts a .233/.361/.314 line in Triple‑A. Anderson, 27, logged 12.1 MLB innings in 2026, while Ohl, also 27, missed 2026 after Tommy John surgery. Outgoing pieces include RHP Philip Abner and LHP Cameron Weston (claimed by Orioles and Marlins), first‑baseman Eric Wagaman (free agency) and Cristian Pache (sent to Triple‑A). Reinstated from the 60‑day IL are Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett and Jorge Polanco.
The Orioles overhaul their 40-man roster as free agency opens, clearing five fringe players—including former #2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad and 2021 slugger Ryan Mountcastle—from the roster and adding four claimants: RHP Josh White (Marlins), LHP Philip Abner (Mets), C Zach Morgan (Giants) and RHP Chase Hampton (Cardinals). All four injured-list pitchers—Kyle Bradish, Ryan Helsley, Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Westburg—return to the roster. Baltimore also extends a qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander Trevor Rogers, one of eight that will likely be declined, positioning the team for a possible compensation pick. These moves have minimal impact on the projected Opening Day 2027 lineup but signal continued roster churn.
The St. Louis Cardinals signed Josh Fleming today for minor league depth, reinstated Max Rajcic from the 60-day injured list, and saw Chase Hampton claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. All of these moves set up their offseason.
The Orioles have cleared waivers on former No. 2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad, making him a free agent. Injuries have limited Kjerstad to just 117 games from 2023‑2026, where he posted a .217/.649 OPS line with 10 homers and 38 RBIs. After a 2024 helmet‑impact concussion, a slump to .192 in 2025, a demotion to Triple‑A Norfolk, and a hamstring strain that restricted him to 11 games in September 2026, Baltimore declined his role. The move follows the team's decision to pass on Ryan Mountcastle’s $7.5 million contract.
The decision to place Heston Kjerstad on waivers comes on the same day the Orioles parted ways with a veteran infielder
The Baltimore Orioles have released outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who clears outright waivers and heads to free agency after being designated for assignment. The former #2 overall pick in the 2020 draft struggled with health setbacks and low production, posting a career .217/.280/.359 line with 10 homers in 333 plate appearances and a wRC+ of just 57 in 2025. Injuries limited his 2025 season and he spent most of 2026 in Triple‑A Norfolk, where he hit .289 with 11 homers. With no minor‑league options left, the O’s expect Kjerstad to sign a minor‑league deal elsewhere.
The Miami Marlins claim right‑hander Cameron Weston off waivers from division rival New York Mets, according to The Athletic. Weston, drafted by the Orioles in 2022, was a top prospect (BA #13, FanGraphs #14) but saw his performance slip, posting a 7.89 ERA in Triple‑A Norfolk last season and making only one MLB appearance—a scoreless inning on May 28 versus Toronto. After a brief, strong stint with the Mets' Triple‑A Syracuse squad (1 run in 6⅓ innings, 10 K, 1 BB), the Marlins add him to the 40‑man roster, retaining two minor‑league options for flexibility.
The Orioles are going to turn down the $7.5MM club option on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, reports Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Mountcastle will become a free agent for the first time in his career. More to come.
In the latest Camden Chat podcast, host Mike Elias dives into the Orioles' looming November free‑agency sprint amid a potential lockout. He evaluates the urgent need to bolster a starting rotation after Trevor Rogers hits free agency and debates whether the team will finally splurge on a free‑agent arm. The show also revisits the mid‑season dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, now replaced by Craig Albernaz, whose tenure has sparked fan backlash. Listeners are invited to weigh in on the Orioles' direction as the offseason kicks off.
The Orioles spark debate by slotting outfielder Rece Hinds on the 40‑man roster despite a .179 OPS and poor splits against lefties, while his minor‑league track record (.486 slugging, 15 homers in 76 Triple‑A games) suggests untapped potential. With the Rule 5 draft looming (rosters due Nov. 17), Baltimore faces a daunting protection list, juggling 16 pitchers and six position players—from Michael Forret to Enrique Bradfield Jr.—and can’t shield everyone. Meanwhile, a CBS Sports ranking places Trevor Rogers as the No. 3 free‑agent pitcher, with an ERA of 3.16 over two seasons for the O’s and an expected $25‑30 million contract, though Baltimore’s interest remains unclear. The piece weighs roster strategy against upcoming free‑agency moves.
The Orioles kick off roster cleanup: relievers Albert Suárez, Colin Selby and Codi Heuer clear waivers, with Suárez opting for free agency while Selby and Heuer stay in the system. Baltimore also faces key decisions—whether to extend a qualifying offer to free agent Trevor Rogers and if they’ll pick up Ryan Mountcastle’s $7.5 million option, which looks doubtful. Meanwhile, former Oriole Christian Walker earns his fourth Gold Glove, and the team mourns the decline of Robert’s 2027 $20 million option after an injury‑ridden season. The post also previews award finalist announcements and includes historic Orioles birthdays.
The Orioles are trimming their 40-man roster ahead of a possible lockout, and utility man Jeremiah Jackson’s future looks shaky. After a breakout stretch in August 2025, Jackson posted a .217/.247/.611 line in 2026 with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, but also a league‑leading 10 errors at second and a 69‑strikeout, 10‑walk ratio. Injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg gave him playing time, yet a September 0‑for‑25 slump and a demotion to Triple‑A Norfolk in August raise doubts. With Holliday, Westburg, and versatile prospect Blaze Alexander expected back for 2027, Jackson may lose his roster spot despite his power potential.
The blog tackles whether the Orioles should shift Coby Mayo or Christian Encarnación‑Strand to the outfield now that Jordan Westburg is back at third base. It notes past chatter about Mayo in the corners, but warns a possible lockout could truncate spring training, leaving little time for either player to master a new position. The piece also suggests Blaze Alexander could stay in the outfield, though his versatility makes him valuable in‑field. A separate Q&A comments on batting averages, highlighting the Brewers and Rays leading the league at .258 and explaining why composite stats matter more than average alone.
The Baltimore Orioles have declined outfielder Luis Robert Jr.'s $20 million club option for 2027, triggering a $2 million buyout and turning the 29‑year‑old into a free agent. Baltimore claimed Robert off waivers from the Mets on Aug. 31, inheriting $4.9 million in salary and the buyout. He posted a .221 average with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in 61 games between New York and Baltimore, but hamstring and lumbar injuries limited him to 271 of 489 possible games from 2024‑2026. Robert now joins Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki and Taylor Ward on the outfield market as the league’s labor deal nears expiration on Dec. 1.