RADIO
Zach Eflin Has 2027 Mutual Option Declined by Orioles
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (elbow) had his $25 million mutual option for the 2027 season declined, per the MLBPA. Eflin is now a free agent. Declining the pricey option was a no-brainer decision for Baltimore, as Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery in April and is likely to miss most or all of the 2027 season as a result. The 32-year-old made just one appearance in 2026 before suffering the season-ending elbow injury. Eflin also battled through an injury-marred 2025 campaign, recording a 6-5 record with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings (14 starts). The veteran right-hander could find a home with a team that wants to have him rehab in their facilities with an eye toward 2028. However, he's unlikely to factor for fantasy managers in 2027.
Source: MLB Players Association
Source: MLB Players Association
Orioles Hiring Jared Banner as General Manager
The Baltimore Orioles are hiring Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner as their general manager, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Banner will work alongside incumbent Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias in Baltimore. The 41-year-old Banner has 18 years of baseball operations experience, taking over his most recent role in Chicago in 2024. He got his start with the Boston Red Sox in 2008, where he spent the first 11 seasons of his career in baseball management. The Orioles have now missed the postseason in back-to-back years after consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. While Elias has spoken publicly about his desire to add to his own front office, Banner's presence could signal that Elias' job is under scrutiny from ownership heading into 2027.
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Orioles Hire Jared Banner As New General Manager
The Baltimore Orioles have made a hire in their search for a new general manager, and according to the team, it is Jared Banner, the former assistant general manager with the Chicago Cubs. The Orioles say that Banner will "work alongside President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias, managing the baseball operations department on a day-to-day basis. Banner will lead the organization's player development, coaching, and performance efforts, while also partnering with Elias on strategy, staffing, and talent acquisition, among other duties." Banner recently completed his 18th season in baseball operations and has worked as assistant GM of the Cubs since 2024.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Cade Povich has Elbow Surgery, Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Baltimore Orioles left-hander Cade Povich (elbow) had surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his elbow after pitching through significant pain down the stretch this year, a source told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Povich is expected to be ready for spring training. The 26-year-old southpaw only made eight appearances (seven starts) for the O's in his third year in the major leagues, going 2-1 with a career-best 4.38 ERA (4.99 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 innings pitched in the majors. Povich had an ERA over 5.00 in each of his first two big-league seasons in Baltimore. He took a jump forward with a career-high 24.2% strikeout rate in 112 1/3 innings pitched in 2025. As long as Povich is fully healthy in spring training next year, he should be in the competition for a starting-rotation spot to begin the regular season. Povich is intriguing for his diverse arsenal and swing-and-miss stuff, but he has yet to put it all together at the major-league level.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Kyle Bradish Set to Undergo Sports-Hernia Surgery on Tuesday
Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said that starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (abdomen) will undergo sports-hernia surgery on Tuesday, per Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Bradish made his last start of the 2026 season in mid-September before being placed on the injured list. After pitching just 71 1/3 innings across the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined due to arm injuries, Bradish managed to make it through 2026 fully healthy until the hernia issue. Across 155 innings (29 starts), the 30-year-old recorded a 7-15 record with a 4.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts. Bradish's production faded in the second half, as he posted a 16.7% strikeout rate and a 5.29 ERA across 47 2/3 innings after the All-Star break. If his struggles down the stretch were a symptom of the hernia, Bradish could be in line for a more complete season in 2027.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Caden Hunter Looks Like Future Fantasy Ace
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Caden Hunter turned in a dominant 2026 minor-league season between three levels. Finishing up at Double-A Chesapeake in his age-22 season, Hunter combined to pitch to a 5-3 record with a 2.01 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 151 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. In his first professional season out of USC, Hunter dominated to hold opposing hitters to a .171 batting average. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-hander is the No. 4 overall prospect of the Orioles and boasts a 60-grade fastball and a 55-grade slider and changeup combination with a 45-grade curveball. Hunter looks like a future fantasy star with the size and skills to be a dominant force on the mound with the Orioles in the future. Look for more of Hunter in the minors in 2027, with the potential to make his MLB debut as soon as next season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kyle Bradish Battling Sports Hernia, Surgery on the Table?
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said that starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (abdomen) has been diagnosed with a sports hernia and is "going through the potential options," per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Bradish was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday, and his 2026 season is now almost certainly over. Across 155 innings (29 starts) before the hernia issue, Bradish recorded a 7-15 record with a 4.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts. The 30-year-old's production faded in the second half, as he posted a 16.7% strikeout rate and a 5.29 ERA across 47 2/3 innings after the All-Star break. If Bradish has been pitching through discomfort over the last few months, it could explain the downturn in his numbers. Assuming he's ready to go for the start of the 2027 season, Bradish could be an under-the-radar bounce-back candidate for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com -Jake Rill
Source: MLB.com -Jake Rill
Shane Baz Hit on Elbow by Comebacker on Tuesday
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Shane Baz (elbow) was hit in what appeared to be his right elbow by a 105.1 mph comebacker off the bat of Mets infielder Bo Bichette on Tuesday night and was pulled from the contest, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Baz tried to throw a warm-up pitch, and it went over the catcher's head. Before getting hit in the arm, Baz allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out two in four innings to raise his ERA for the season to 4.11. The Orioles will likely send Baz for X-rays to see if he has a crack or break in his elbow. Even if he avoids a broken arm, there is no guarantee that he will be cleared to make his next start for Baltimore. The Orioles are technically still in the playoff hunt in the American League, coming into Tuesday's action three games out of the final wild-card spot, but with two teams in front of them. Baz came into his 30th start of 2026 with a league-high 15 losses, a 4.05 ERA (3.54 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, and a 150:58 K:BB in 169 innings pitched.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Kyle Bradish Placed on 15-Day Injured List with Abdominal Issue
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (abdomen) has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to lower abdominal discomfort, per an announcement from the team. With only 14 days remaining in the Orioles' regular season, Bradish's year is likely done. Across 155 innings (29 starts) in 2026, the 30-year-old recorded a 7-15 record with a 4.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts. Bradish has struggled mightily in the second half of the season, recording a 5.29 ERA with just a 16.7% strikeout rate across 47 2/3 innings after the All-Star break. Still, it's a positive sign for Bradish's long-term outlook that he was able to reach 150 innings after failing to reach the 40-inning mark in either 2024 or 2025 due to arm issues. With Bradish sidelined, Orioles left-hander Cade Povich could be in line for a promotion from Triple-A to the Baltimore rotation.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Anthony Eyanson has Been Lights-Out Since Trade to O's
Since he came over to the Baltimore Orioles organization from the Boston Red Sox in the Adley Rutschman deal, pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson has been lights-out pitching for the Orioles' Double-A affiliate, the Chesapeake Baysox. In five starts with Chesapeake, Eyanson has a 2-1 record with a 2.00 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. The right-hander was equally dominant with the Red Sox this season, pitching to a 4-0 record at Double-A Portland with a 1.69 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Eyanson is now the No. 2 prospect on the Orioles and features a 60-grade fastball with a 65-grade slider and 55-grade curveball. The 21-year-old has shown great strikeout upside in the minor leagues, with his slider being a big potential wipeout pitch. He still looks maybe a year away, however, from joining the Orioles and potentially featuring in their starting rotation.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Trevor Rogers Bounces Back with Strong Start on Wednesday
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers put together a strong start on Wednesday at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two earned runs while racking up 11 strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings pitched. It was a nice bounce-back performance for Rogers, who had allowed six earned runs to the St. Louis Cardinals his last time out. Across 144 1/3 innings (26 starts) in 2026, the 28-year-old has recorded a 9-9 record with a 4.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. While Rogers' overall line doesn't leap off the page, he got off to a terrible start to the year that is weighing down his season-long numbers. Across 16 starts since the beginning of June, Rogers has recorded seven wins and allowed more than three earned runs just twice. With the rough outing against St. Louis behind him, Rogers' value is back on the rise heading into his final few starts of 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Orioles Calling Up Pitching Prospect Luis De Leon on Tuesday
The Baltimore Orioles are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Luis De Leon with rosters expanding on Tuesday, a source told Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. It will be De Leon's major-league debut once he appears in a game. The 23-year-old southpaw has big stuff and was converted from a starting role to a relief role recently. The Dominican hurler, who is considered the O's No. 7 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, has gone 6-6 this year with a 4.73 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 121:53 K:BB in 99 innings across 26 appearances (22 starts) at Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk. In seven outings (three starts) at Norfolk, De Leon has allowed 14 runs (13 earned) with 11 walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched, so although he has big stuff on the mound, he has not been dominant by any means. The 6-foot-3, 168-pounder induces plenty of ground balls thanks to a plus sinker. In addition to his sinker, De Leon features a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and splitter. His deep arsenal makes him tough to square up, but if his command does not improve, he will struggle mightily in his first taste of the big leagues in September.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Kyle Bradish Pushed Back to Tuesday, Orioles Could Run Six-Man Rotation
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish will make his next start on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, per Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Bradish had originally been in line to start against Colorado on Monday, but the Orioles recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A to make the start instead. Per Weyrich, it "remains to be seen" if the Orioles will operate with a six-man rotation going forward. Across 143 innings (26 starts) in 2026, Bradish has recorded a 7-12 record with a 4.03 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 133 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has struggled to a 5.40 ERA in August and allowed seven earned runs across 4 1/3 innings of work his last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals. Bradish missed most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to elbow issues, so Baltimore could be looking to get him some extra rest as he fights end-of-season fatigue.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Michael Forret Coming Off Solid Start at Triple-A Norfolk
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret pitched well in his start on Saturday for Triple-A Norfolk and has mixed results in his four starts with his new club after a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. Forret picked up the loss on Saturday despite pitching five solid innings of two-run ball with two hits allowed and four walks. He did have six strikeouts as a bright point in the outing. Forret had one dud start for Norfolk, allowing eight runs in five innings in one of his outings. Altogether, he is 0-2 with Norfolk. He is the No. 10 prospect for the Orioles with three 55-grade pitches in his fastball, slider, and changeup. The Orioles will likely look for a bit more consistency from the 22-year-old before calling him up and allowing him to have any fantasy relevance this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Anthony Eyanson Continues to Impress With New Club
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson has pitched well for his new organization after coming over in the trade that sent catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston, now with a 2.60 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an elite 28.4 percent K-BB% through three starts (17 1/3 innings pitched). It has been a continuation of the success he saw earlier in the year, and now for the season, the right-hander owns a pristine 1.58 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 26.9 percent K-BB% in 19 appearances between High-A and Double-A. The Orioles' top pitching prospect should get a chance to test his mettle against Triple-A competition in 2027, with a chance to debut in the majors later in the year. As one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (No. 7 RHP per MLB.com), there's a lot to like, and the strikeout potential is real, so managers in redraft leagues will want to keep tabs on his progress in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
