There are four free-agent left-handed relievers that could help the Orioles.
Paul Mancano is profiling free agents who might be of interest to the Orioles at each position group this month.
The importance of left-hander Danny Couolmbe to the 2023 Orioles cannot be overstated. The journeyman was acquired just three days before the start of the regular season and put up a 2.81 ERA in 61 appearances, playing an important part in Baltimore’s bullpen.
Coulombe may be called upon even more in 2024 now that he has proven himself. Cionel Pérez, a fellow lefty, took a step back this season after a stellar 2022 season. DL Hall showed flashes down the stretch, but the Orioles may be tempted to give him another start. Cole Irvin was a better reliever than a starter, but he wasn’t used much in high-pressure circumstances.
Even if Coulombe, Pérez, Hall, and Irvin make the Opening Day roster, the Orioles could profit from another left-handed reliever in 2024. Here are four free agents who should be on general manager and Executive Vice President Mike Elias’ radar, omitting top targets Josh Hader and Aroldis Chapman, who will most likely be out of the Orioles’ price range.
Jake Diekman
Diekman is well traveled. After struggling with the White Sox to start the 2023 season, the 12-year veteran was signed by the Rays, his eighth big league organization. Tampa Bay did what it does best, coaxing an impressive 2.18 ERA out of Diekman over 50 appearances the rest of the way.
The quintessential “good stuff, bad command” reliever, Diekman routinely ranks among the league’s best in strikeout percentage and among the worst in walk percentage. It may be hard to remember now, but Félix Bautista once had issues with consistently finding the strike zone, walking 5.8 batters per nine innings in his final minor league season, before the Orioles helped the righty harness his control.#
Diekman, at the age of 36, is most likely who he is. However, the Orioles may be able to make a few changes to improve his game.
Moore, Matt
The best relievers are sometimes failed starters (see Britton, Zack). Moore was a middling starter for five clubs before the Rangers moved him to the bullpen full-time in 2022, aside from a spectacular 2013 season with the Rays. He answered with a 1.95 ERA for Texas that year, followed by a 2.56 ERA for Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Miami in 2023.
Opposing batters struggled against Moore’s changeup, hitting just.163 against it in 2023. The 34-year-old would not be the closer in Baltimore, but he may be another weapon for manager Brandon Hyde against left-handed hitters.
Wandy Peralta’s
When it comes to changeups, few pitchers rely on them more than Peralta, who made them his primary offering in 2021 and has never looked back. In 2023, opponents hit.185 against Peralta’s changeup while the veteran had a 2.83 ERA with the Yankees.
Peralta struggled with the Reds at first before settling in with the Giants in 2019. He’s gotten better with each passing year, and at 32, he figures to have several more strong years ahead of him.
Peralta would be a quality reliever in Baltimore if he can keep his walk rate down — it jumped to 13.2% this season, putting him in the fourth percentile among qualified relievers, according to Statcast.
Suter, Brent
If you can keep your ERA under 3.50 in Colorado, you’re doing something good. Suter was grabbed off waivers by the Rockies last November after seven successful seasons with the Brewers. He posted a 3.38 ERA in 57 appearances in 2023. Most notably, he only surrendered three home runs all season.
The 34-year-old doesn’t strike out often — only 7.6 per nine innings in his career — but he keeps hitters guessing with his remarkable extension, which Statcast consistently ranks among the best in baseball.
Suter, like Coulombe, experienced reversal splits in 2023, allowing right-handed hitters to hit.229 while allowing lefties to hit.284. The Orioles would like to add someone who can routinely retire left-handed batters, but there is surely room in their bullpen for a pitcher of Suter’s calibre.
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