Young and Strowd selected to 40-man roster, over a dozen others elect free agency
*Cover Photo Credit: Kate Kirsch
Even during the offseason, transactions and roster moves aplenty within a Major League organization and its farm system. The Orioles have remained busy since the end of the World Series, and here is an extended look at some of the recent October and November transactions involving their Minor Leaguers.
Contracts Selected
The Orioles have protected three pitchers from the Rule 5 draft and have added the following arms to their 40-man roster. This bumps their 40-man roster to 39 players, leaving just one vacant spot.
LHP Luis Gonzalez
RHP Kade Strowd
RHP Brandon Young
Strowd was taken by the Orioles in the 12th round of the 2019 draft out of West Virginia University. After starting the season with Double-A Bowie and tossing 10.1 scoreless innings there, he was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk for the first time where he struck out 60 batters in 41 innings, good for a 13.2 K/9 and a 28.4% strikeout rate. He faced some command issues, though, as he carried a 5.9 BB/9 with Norfolk which contributed to a 6.80 ERA. There is something to work with here in Strowd, though, so do not let the elevated numbers fool you. Strowd is a hard thrower that collects swings and misses like a collection. If the Orioles' pitching development can work his command out, then Strowd has the potential to become something beyond a serviceable relief arm. He could earn his way to the big leagues eventually.
Young, 26, is the most notable 40-man addition, and the Orioles were smart to protect him. After having battled Tommy John surgery from 2022 to 2023, he has risen to the occassion as one of Baltimore's top young pitching prospects. Young spent the majority of 2024 with Norfolk after having received a promotion from Bowie in May. In 27 games split between the two teams, he collected 111 innings while collecting 132 strikeouts and walking just 37. That equates to a 28.5% strikeout rate and an incredibly low 8% walk rate. Young also kept the ball in the park as only 8 batters were able to put home runs over the fence against him this year. The Texan sits as the Orioles' No. 19 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. In a season where the Orioles will be keeping a close eye on Minor League arms on the verge of breaking through into the Majors, Young will be one of them. If he gets off to a hot start with Norfolk next spring, expect Young to receive his first big league opportunity at some point during the 2025 season.
Gonzalez, 32, spent 2013 to 2019 floating around in the Orioles' Minor League system while finding himself on their top prospect charts numerous times. After floating around more Minor League organizations and foreign baseball in the following years, the lefty was brought back to Birdland for the 2024 season and had a solid season for the Tides. In 60 relief innings pitched, his WHIP did not exceed 1.200 and he collected 71 strikeouts while walking just 12 batters. Hitters hit just .236 against the lefty. Gonzalez was rewarded with his strong season with a spot on the 40-man roster in October. He has been waiting a long time for his Major League debut and as a durable, left-handed innings eater, he could finally make it for the first time next season.
Elected Free Agency
The following 13 players elected free agency following the conclusion of the Major League postseason. They now have the opportunity to sign with any of the 30 Major League organizations, meaning that there is still the opportunity for them to negotiate a new contract with the Orioles.
RHP Nick Anderson
RHP Joel Benitez
RHP Matt Bowman
IF JD Davis
IF Niko Goodrum
RHP Nolan Hoffman
RHP Adrian Houser
LHP Matt Krook
IF Nick Maton
LHP Cooper McKeehan
RHP Oscar Pierret
UTL Terrin Vavra
LHP Nick Vespi
OF Forrest Wall
LHP Bruce Zimmermann
This could mark the end for Zimmermann's tenure in the Orioles organization as well as his push to be a homegrown hero. Born and raised in Ellicott City, Maryland, the 29-year-old was acquired from the Braves in 2018 as a top pitching prospect in the Kevin Gausman trade. He has struggled to live up to expectations at the Major League level as he holds a career 5.58 ERA and an elavated 1.459 WHIP in 158.1 career big league innings. In 23 games for Norfolk this season, 76.2 innings, he posted a modest 4.34 ERA with 75 strikeouts and a 66% strike percentage. This will be Zimmermann's first trip to free agency and he enters as a durable southpaw who can fit any role, whether it be a starter or a middle reliever. It is unfortunate to see his time here potentially end, as he had the support of many fans who wanted to have Maryland's own represent the Oriole orange and black. Though, who knows? There is always a chance that he re-signs with a new Minor League contract.
Vespi, an 18th rounder by the O's in 2015, could also see his own lengthy tenure with the organization end. Once seen as a lock to appear as a left-handed middle-reliever out of the Orioles bullpen, he has continuously been tossed back and forth between AAA-ball and the Orioles since his big league debut in 2022. While he struggled with the Tides this season (7.23 ERA in 42.1 IP), he had a solid 11 games with the Orioles as he posted a 2.92 ERA with a 1.054 WHIP and just 3 walks. His constant moving around is questionable, and it can be taken into consideration when discussing his overall performance in 2024. It is an unfortunate scene of events for a reliable left-handed reliever who may not throw entirely hard but has always been capable of pitching effectively at the big league level. Perhaps another organization is willing to give him a shot and firmly place him somewhere.
Johnson and Maton signed before the season in an attempt to return to the big leagues and posted solid seasons with the Tides. Johnson was second on the Tides with 21 home runs, and he also posted a .768 OPS. Maton posted an .834 OPS with 56 RBI while slugging .471. Both received brief big league stints with the Orioles during the 2024 season and will now pursue opportunities potentially elsewhere. Cooper, Davis, Goodrum, and Houser were mid-season signings as they, themselves, brought extended big league experience to the Tides in hope of returning to the big leagues. Goodrum hit .291 in 43 games with an .835 OPS, while Cooper hit .310 with a .914 OPS in 20 games. Houser posted a 9.18 ERA in three starts, while Davis struggled to a .466 OPS in 31 games.
Krook has since signed a Minor League deal with the Athletics.
Released
The following two players have been released out of the Orioles' organization entirely.
RHP Hugo Beltran
LHP Ronald Guzman
Beltran joined the Orioles organization in 2021 via a trade with the Dodgers. He did not appear in a game in 2024 due to injuries, but he had posted solid numbers in the Minors prior to that. In 26.1 innings for Low-A Delmarva in 2023, he posted a 2.73 ERA with 30 strikeouts. The 24-year-old from Columbia is now a free agent and has the opportunity to explore a new deal with any of the 30 big league clubs.
Guzman is a big league veteran of 5 years. Once seen as the left-handed power-hitting first baseman of the future for the Texas Rangers, he recently transitioned into a pitcher in 2022 and caught on with the Orioles this season to bolster his comeback efforts. Injuries marred his 2024 campaign and he only got into 4 games with High-A Aberdeen. It did not go well, as he was tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) while surrendering 9 walks and 5 hits. He will now hit the open market and attempt his comeback as a pitcher elsewhere or perhaps on a new Minor League deal with the Orioles.
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