Baltimore Orioles Claim Promising Lefty Reliever from Royals
The Baltimore Orioles are making moves to shore up their bullpen ahead of the 2024 MLB season.
Getting started early, even when free agency and the trade period has yet to officially begin, is never a bad idea.
On Wednesday, the Orioles claimed left-handed relief pitcher Tucker Davidson off of waivers from the Kansas City Royals.
Davidson came up as a pitcher but was unable to stick in the position. Since then, he has transferred to the bullpen where he has found some success.
The lefty threw 51.1 innings in 2023 between the Royals and the Los Angeles Angels and posted a 5.96 ERA and a bloated 1.617 WHIP.
Those are awe-inspiring numbers and he isn't being brought in to close games. However, Davidson doesn't walk a ton of guys and he doesn't give up hard hits. His peripherals look decent and, with the right organization, he could find some success at the Major League level.
Baltimore is taking a chance on him, but it isn't a large one. The Orioles do not have to remove anyone from their roster to accommodate Davidson's addition. This will now give both Baltimore and Davidson a chance to work on issues and get familiar with one another throughout the winter and ahead of MLB Spring Training.
These are the types of moves that have helped the Orioles find success while keeping the payroll low. If a guy like Davidson can pan out, it then allows Baltimore to spend money elsewhere rather than on a left-handed reliever in free agency or through the trade market.
