12 pitchers competing for rotation spots
Before the Orioles went to the food bank Friday, Elias and Hyde held press conferences on the sixth floor of the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards.
Elias said he was excited about the Orioles’ pitching depth going into spring training, adding that 12 pitchers will be competing for the five rotation spots. Two of those spots have essentially been locked up by Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin, the two starters Elias added this offseason. Gibson, a 10-year veteran, signed a $10 million contract with the Orioles, while Irvin was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.
Gibson and Irvin have combined to pitch 709 innings the last two seasons, while no one else on the team’s 40-man roster has pitched more than 126 frames in a single major league campaign.
Therefore, the other 10 pitchers presumably competing for the remaining three spots are: Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Austin Voth, Spenser Watkins, DL Hall, Bruce Zimmermann, Mike Baumann and Drew Rom. Pitchers like Bradish and Kremer, who had success with the Orioles last season, could have an easier path to the rotation than others on that list, but Elias said nothing is “set in stone” until the end of spring training.
“The rest of the guys either weren’t in the rotation last year or were but only pitched 100-120 innings and were rookies,” Elias said. “Anytime that’s the case, I think you go back into spring training with a competition to get into the rotation.”
With such a logjam, Elias said the organization has considered a six-man rotation, although he said discussions about the starting pitchers now is under the assumption of a five-man group.
“With the 13-man pitching staff [rule], it sort of creates other problems because your bullpen is doing so much work,” Elias said. “I think that depends on the off days and things like that and maybe what the nature of the competition in camp shakes out like. We’ve certainly tossed that idea around…but we’re talking more about a five-man rotation right now.”