The Orioles knew it would be next to impossible to replace Félix Bautista this season. Baltimore signed veteran Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal with the understanding that Kimbrel’s best days were likely behind him. Still, with Bautista set to return in 2025, the move made sense.
The Orioles could have made a play for another late-inning reliever, but the front office never found a fit. Mike Elias actually dealt from the back end when he sent DL Hall to Milwaukee in the deal that brought Corbin Burnes to Baltimore. The guys in the Warehouse looked at the relievers already under contract and said “we like our guys.