A former reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals and currently a free agent, has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, according to Ken Rosenthal. The team has yet to officially confirm the agreement.
The contract guarantees Kittredge $9 million in salary, with an additional $1 million buyout for a $9 million club option.
At 34 years old, Kittredge had a solid 2024 season with the Cardinals, his first year in St. Louis. He posted a 2.80 ERA over 70 2/3 innings, making 74 appearances, which ranked ninth in the MLB for the most appearances by any pitcher.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022 and making a brief return in 2023 with the Rays, Kittredge proved to be a reliable middle reliever in 2024. He kept opponents scoreless in 57 of his 74 outings and allowed more than one run only seven times, with a season-high of three runs in a single appearance.
Kittredge is known for his powerful slider, which he threw 49.4% of the time in 2024. This pitch was highly effective, holding opponents to a .177 batting average and producing a 41.3% swing-and-miss rate. His slider also had an impressive 38.9% chase rate, ranking him in the 100th percentile among pitchers.
One of Kittredge’s strengths is his ability to induce swings at pitches outside the strike zone. He led all pitchers who faced at least 250 batters with a 38.9% chase rate on out-of-zone pitches, and generated whiffs on 27.8% of swings.
Durability has been a concern for Kittredge, as he has exceeded 60 innings pitched in only two seasons and reached 40 innings just once more in his career. However, when healthy, he has consistently been among the league’s top relievers.
While Kittredge’s numbers might not be eye-popping, his ability to miss bats and his solid control have resulted in a career 3.44 ERA across 255 MLB appearances.
The Orioles, with a full 40-man roster, will need to make room for Kittredge to finalize the deal. He is expected to serve as a setup man for star closer Félix Bautista, who is returning from Tommy John surgery. Kittredge’s addition strengthens the Orioles’ bullpen, joining hard-throwing relievers like Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, and Keegan Akin in high-leverage situations. Kittredge led the National League last season with 37 holds and ranked second in MLB, behind only Houston’s Bryan Abreu.
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