Revisiting Orioles bullpen after Webb's non-tender

Here we are again, blowing up roster projections in November. Stand back and cover your ears.

I want to cover my eyes every time one of my locks doesn’t pan out.

We learned more about the roster with yesterday's non-tender of right-handed reliever Jacob Webb. We know that Emmanuel Rivera has a $1 million contract that doesn’t guarantee him an Opening Day introduction. He’s out of options and the infield is crowded.

It appears to be the only set position. The Orioles could use a right-handed hitting outfielder and at least one starting pitcher. They need a backup catcher. And they’ve decided to make changes in the bullpen.

They seemed to have their eight relievers before removing Webb and left-hander Danny Coulombe, who combined for a 2.71 ERA and two elbow injuries. Coulombe underwent surgery to remove a bone chip and missed three months.

The other six are Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin. Albert Suárez could jump back into a relief role. The 40-man roster also includes right-handers Colin Selby, Bryan Baker, Kade Strowd and Thaddeus Ward.

Minor league starters Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young also could enter the chat, though the Orioles might want to keep developing them as starters.

A fourth left-hander, if the Orioles want to strike an exact balance, could be Luis González or maybe Trevor Rogers if he isn’t starting. González was added to the 40-man and hasn’t pitched in the majors. Rogers, who was tendered a contract yesterday, ideally would claim a spot in the rotation, as the club envisioned after trading for him.

The bullpen posted a 4.22 ERA this year that ranked 23^rd in the majors, compared to 3.55 in 2023 that ranked fifth. The Orioles had to address it, but I doubt that many people thought Coulombe and Webb would be impacted.

The Orioles can negotiate with them. The duo isn't off-limits.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias must be checking the trade and free-agent markets, the latter expanded yesterday. The Nationals non-tendered All-Star Kyle Finnegan. The Blue Jays non-tendered two-time All-Star Jordan Romano, who appeared in only 15 games and had surgery in July to fix an elbow impingement.

Former Oriole Dillon Tate is out there, too, but that ship likely has sailed.

I’m tempted to say it’s a lock that he isn’t coming back.

Elias probably won’t rely only on in-house guys while setting the spring training roster.

“We do have, I think, a good bullpen to start the offseason with,” Elias said during his recent video call. “You look at the returning guys’ names and there are a lot of above-average relievers in there. And I thought Seranthony Domínguez, who’s coming back, did a great job after the deadline pitching at the end of games for us. It’s really nice to have him back. Cano’s been a mainstay and a rock out there. And then we have the lefties. So we’ve got a good start.

“We certainly will be examining bullpen opportunities throughout the offseason, but at this time we’re not making any firm commitments or plans toward what types of investments or profiles we’re looking at in the bullpen.”

High leverage is a safe bet. I'd say a lock.