The Orioles addressed their bullpen early during the offseason, bringing in a pair of new arms, but could they be in the market for one more arm?They had one of the worst bullpens in baseball in 2025, with a 4.57 earned run average, and will most likely be without All-Star closer Felix Bautista for the upcoming season. They signed Ryan Helsley to fill in for Bautista and brought back Andrew Kittredge to serve as his setup man.The two of them were one of the best bullpen combinations in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Orioles hope they can return to form. They only have one other pitcher in the bullpen with more than five years of experience in Keegan Akin, so they could use another veteran to shore up the group. With spring training less than a month away, there are slim options in free agency. Former Oriole Seranthony Dominguez just signed a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, and he was considered the best remaining free agent bullpen arm left. Here is a look at a trio of options that the Orioles could turn to to help bolster the bullpen. Scott BarlowOne of the few healthy right-handers available in free agency is Scott Barlow, the former closer who spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds. He had an average season with them but is coming off a career high 75 games pitched and finished with a 4.21 ERA. His best seasons came in 2021-22 when he served as the closer for the Kansas City Royals and had 40 saves over that stretch with a 2.30 ERA. Barlow is one of the few right-handed pitchers on the market who is below 35 years old, although age is not a major factor among relief pitchers. Rafael MonteroRafael Montero is another veteran pitcher available and is coming off a season in which he pitched in 59 games for three different teams. He finished with an average 4.48 ERA in 2025 and was once a closer for the Houston Astros in 2022, helping them win the World Series that season. That was the best season of his career with a 2.37 ERA in 71 games, saving 14 games. The nine-year veteran has pitched with the Astros, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and, most recently, the Detroit Tigers. He has 16 games of postseason experience and could provide the bullpen with a veteran arm that has been reliable. He has not missed a game due to injury since 2018 and has pitched at least 60 games in three different seasons.Chris BassittThe veteran pitcher was a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays last season but was used out of the bullpen during the playoffs, including pitching in five games during the World Series. Chris Bassitt will be 37 years old at the start of next season and could be interested in a full-time switch to the bullpen. He could also serve as a starter for the team in case of an injury when needed and has started 30 games the past four seasons.Bassitt could be a useful piece as he could fill in the rotation while players like Zach Eflin recover from injury and allow some flexibility with players like Tyler Wells. Both Bassitt and Wells have experience in the bullpen, with Bassitt making a name for himself in the playoffs last season with a 1.08 ERA out of the bullpen.
BALTIMORE —
The Orioles addressed their bullpen early during the offseason, bringing in a pair of new arms, but could they be in the market for one more arm?
They had one of the worst bullpens in baseball in 2025, with a 4.57 earned run average, and will most likely be without All-Star closer Felix Bautista for the upcoming season. They signed Ryan Helsley to fill in for Bautista and brought back Andrew Kittredge to serve as his setup man.
The two of them were one of the best bullpen combinations in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Orioles hope they can return to form. They only have one other pitcher in the bullpen with more than five years of experience in Keegan Akin, so they could use another veteran to shore up the group.
With spring training less than a month away, there are slim options in free agency. Former Oriole Seranthony Dominguez just signed a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, and he was considered the best remaining free agent bullpen arm left. Here is a look at a trio of options that the Orioles could turn to to help bolster the bullpen.
Scott Barlow
Getty ImagesNic Antaya
Scott Barlow #58 of the Cleveland Guardians
One of the few healthy right-handers available in free agency is Scott Barlow, the former closer who spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds. He had an average season with them but is coming off a career high 75 games pitched and finished with a 4.21 ERA. His best seasons came in 2021-22 when he served as the closer for the Kansas City Royals and had 40 saves over that stretch with a 2.30 ERA. Barlow is one of the few right-handed pitchers on the market who is below 35 years old, although age is not a major factor among relief pitchers.
Rafael Montero
Getty ImagesCasey Paul
Rafael Montero #99 of the Detroit Tigers
Rafael Montero is another veteran pitcher available and is coming off a season in which he pitched in 59 games for three different teams. He finished with an average 4.48 ERA in 2025 and was once a closer for the Houston Astros in 2022, helping them win the World Series that season.
That was the best season of his career with a 2.37 ERA in 71 games, saving 14 games. The nine-year veteran has pitched with the Astros, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and, most recently, the Detroit Tigers. He has 16 games of postseason experience and could provide the bullpen with a veteran arm that has been reliable. He has not missed a game due to injury since 2018 and has pitched at least 60 games in three different seasons.
Chris Bassitt
Getty ImagesEmilee Chinn
Chris Bassitt #40 of the Toronto Blue Jays
The veteran pitcher was a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays last season but was used out of the bullpen during the playoffs, including pitching in five games during the World Series. Chris Bassitt will be 37 years old at the start of next season and could be interested in a full-time switch to the bullpen. He could also serve as a starter for the team in case of an injury when needed and has started 30 games the past four seasons.
Bassitt could be a useful piece as he could fill in the rotation while players like Zach Eflin recover from injury and allow some flexibility with players like Tyler Wells. Both Bassitt and Wells have experience in the bullpen, with Bassitt making a name for himself in the playoffs last season with a 1.08 ERA out of the bullpen.
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