The Baltimore Orioles have bolstered their rotation by signing All-Star pitcher on a one-year, $5.25 million deal, with an additional $1.525 million available through incentives. This move comes just days before the start of the season, addressing the team’s need for pitching depth after recent injuries and departures.
He returns to Baltimore after playing a key role in the Orioles’ impressive 2023 season, where they won 101 games and clinched the American League East title. That year, he made 33 starts, posting a 15-9 record with a 4.73 ERA over 192 innings. Known for his reliability, Gibson has made at least 29 starts in nine of his ten full MLB seasons.
The Orioles’ pitching staff has faced significant challenges ahead of the 2025 season. Ace Corbin Burnes departed for the Arizona Diamondbacks on a lucrative six-year, $210 million deal, leaving a major gap in the rotation. Meanwhile, promising right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is starting the season on the injured list due to elbow inflammation. These setbacks made Gibson’s veteran presence essential for maintaining rotation stability.
Kyle Gibson and the Orioles reunite after stint with Cardinals
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72017271/1469029743.0.jpg)
Last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Gibson delivered solid, if unspectacular, production, starting 30 games with an 8-8 record and a 4.24 ERA across 169⅔ innings. His performance highlighted his reliability as an innings-eater, helping to ease the workload on the bullpen throughout the grueling MLB season.
The Orioles’ rotation now includes seasoned arms like Charlie Morton and Japanese veteran Tomoyuki Sugano, both of whom signed one-year deals this offseason. Alongside Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer, Gibson is expected to bring valuable experience and stability to a rotation that still faces questions at the top.
To start the season, Gibson may require extra time to get fully prepared, potentially beginning with a minor league stint or a brief placement on the injured list. Manager Brandon Hyde stressed the importance of a gradual buildup due to Gibson’s delayed start to spring training.
Overall, Gibson’s addition reflects the Orioles’ commitment to staying competitive in the challenging AL East. Baltimore’s management values his durability and professionalism, seeing him as a crucial presence who can mentor the team’s younger pitchers as they push for another postseason run in 2025.