Orioles sign Kyle Gibson to one-year deal

SARASOTA, Fla. – The quest for starter depth has caused the Orioles to circle back to Kyle Gibson.

The club announced tonight that it signed Gibson to a one-year contract. A source confirmed that the deal guarantees $5.25 million. The Athletic also reported that Gibson can earn $1.525 million in performance bonuses.

Gibson, 37, spent the 2023 season with the Orioles and emerged as one of their most popular players while going 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA in 33 starts. He pitched for the Cardinals last season and registered a 4.24 ERA in 30 starts.

The free-agency process didn't move as quickly for Gibson this winter.

“Kyle was amazing for us a couple years ago, what he did in the clubhouse, plus how he took the ball every five days and kept us in almost every game,” manager Brandon Hyde said after a 9-1 loss to the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. “He was an unbelievable leader. Had a good year last year in St. Louis, and I’m really happy about having him back.”

The impact won’t be immediate. Gibson has been throwing at home but isn’t ready to jump into major league competition.

“He’s gonna have to go through pretty much a whole spring training type of ramp-up,” Hyde said, “so it’s gonna be a while.”

Gibson has made 30 or more starts in four consecutive full seasons and five of six. He started 29 games with the Twins in 2017 and ’19, and 31 and 32, respectively, in 2014 and ’15.

The right-hander is one of seven major league pitchers to have made at least 30 starts in four straight seasons, a group that includes 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who slots second in the Orioles’ rotation behind Zach Eflin.

The durability is needed on a team that won’t have Grayson Rodriguez on the Opening Day roster due to inflammation behind his right elbow that required a cortisone injection. Rodriguez played catch again today but he’s headed to the injured list.

Kyle Bradish went on the 60-day injured list tonight to make room for Gibson on the 40-man roster. Tyler Wells can join Bradish if the Orioles need another spot. Both pitchers are recovering from reconstructive elbow surgeries.

Eflin is starting the March 27 opener in Toronto, with Morton following. Tomoyuki Sugano and Dean Kremer also will be in the rotation to begin the season, and Albert Suárez is battling Cade Povich for the last spot.

Asked about the health of the other starters, Hyde said, “He’s not gonna be ready for a long time. As you saw last year, it takes a lot of starters. We used a lot of starters last year, so just adding another rotation piece we felt like is important. Anything can happen.”

Gibson is expected to report to the baseball operations center on Saturday. He pitched for the Orioles on Opening Day in 2023.

“Kyle’s gonna have to go through a whole progression to get up in a starter workload,” Hyde said.

* Hyde labeled Félix Bautista's outing tonight as “OK” after the reliever threw 26 pitches in two-thirds of an inning and surrendered a home run to Zach McKinstry. Bautista also walked two batters and struck out two.

“I thought he kind of got tired there toward the end a little bit,” Hyde said. “I thought he threw some good splits. I didn’t think the command was his best tonight. Tough time getting his fastball by guys a little bit. This is spring training for him. I think when the season starts and there’s 40,000 people there, I think the adrenaline will probably kick in a little more.”

Suárez was charged with eight runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

“He really threw his off-speed stuff in hitters’ counts well against the Tigers in spring training,” Hyde said. “I thought they were aggressive and took good swings one him on balls in the strike zone. He had a tough time there for a couple innings after the second inning getting guys off the barrel, but he’s had a heck of a camp and a little minor blip in his camp.”