Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said there were 12 rotation candidates. Zimmermann is one of them. But there are five spots, ample arms who found success in the big leagues last year and only so many innings to make an impression.
He was designated for assignment on Nov. 15 and picked up, for the first time, on Nov. 22 — the start of an offseason that put him through seven additional moves before finally settling with the Orioles.
Bautista dealt with right shoulder fatigue toward the end of the 2022 season, and his campaign ended on the injured list when he suffered a sprained left knee.
Johnson underwent surgery just days after the trade, and only recently began throwing again. But the Orioles still view him as an important part of their future.
The no-longer-rebuilding Orioles have their starting day lineup mostly penciled in at this point, but there are eight open spots between the bench, rotation and bullpen. Here’s a look at the most intriguing players fighting for those spots.
The Orioles catcher went viral for posting what he called “a joke.” Those closest to him saw a more determined — and thoughtful — competitor during training this winter.
Last year, the Orioles bullpen was seen as a mishmash of spare parts. After one of the most impressive turnarounds in MLB history, though, the group faces raised expectations.