Andrew Kittredge, a former relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals currently on the free-agent market, has reportedly reached a one-year agreement with the Baltimore Orioles, according to Ken Rosenthal. The Orioles have yet to confirm this deal.
Kittredge’s contract is set to provide a guaranteed salary of $9 million along with a $1 million buyout on a $9 million club option.
The 34-year-old had a strong 2024 season while with the Cardinals, his inaugural year in St. Louis, finishing with a 2.80 ERA over 70 2/3 innings pitched. He made 74 appearances, which ranked him ninth in Major League Baseball for the highest number of outings by a pitcher.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022, Kittredge made a successful return during what was effectively his first full season, having pitched 11 2/3 innings for the Rays in the 2023 season. He established himself as a reliable middle reliever for the Cardinals, managing to keep opponents scoreless in 57 of his 74 outings and allowing multiple runs on just seven occasions, with a maximum of three runs in a single game.
Andrew Kittredge and his effective slider
Kittredge heavily relies on his overpowering slider, which he threw 49.4% of the time in 2024, a rate that was outdone by only five pitchers who hurled at least 1,000 pitches that year.
The pitch’s effectiveness validated its frequent use, with opponents managing a mere .177 batting average against it and missing the ball on 41.3% of their swings. The slider also boasted a significant 38.9% chase rate, placing Kittredge in the top percentile among all pitchers.
Kittredge is particularly skilled at inducing swings on pitches outside the strike zone. He led the league with an impressive 38.9 percent chase rate on such pitches among pitchers who faced at least 250 batters last season. Furthermore, he recorded a whiff rate of 27.8 percent on swings against him.
Concerns about Kittredge’s durability remain; he has pitched over 60 innings in just two seasons and has exceeded 40 innings one additional time in his career. However, when healthy throughout an entire season, Kittredge has consistently been recognized as one of the league’s top relievers.
Kittredge enhances the Baltimore Orioles’ bullpen
While Kittredge’s statistics may not be eye-catching, his blend of strong swing-and-miss capabilities along with decent command has led to a career ERA of 3.44 over 255 MLB appearances.
With a complete 40-man roster, the Orioles will need to create room to finalize Kittredge’s contract.
The new addition to the Orioles’ bullpen is anticipated to serve in a setup role in front of star closer Félix Bautista, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. As a veteran presence, Kittredge adds valuable depth behind manager Brandon Hyde, joining hard-throwing options like Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, and Keegan Akin for high-pressure situations. With significant experience in the seventh and eighth innings, Kittredge led the National League last season and ranked second in the MLB with 37 holds, trailing only Houston’s Bryan Abreu.
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