Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge (knee) was playing catch in the outfield on Saturday. The reliever is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent earlier in the spring. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but given that he has yet to throw on the mound, he is still several months away from returning. Last season, Kittredge enjoyed a productive campaign operating as a set-up man in St. Louis. Across 70 2/3 innings of work, the 35-year-old posted a 2.80 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. He tallied 37 holds and held a 67:20 BB:K. He generated a modest 3.97 xERA and a .250 xBA, which suggests he could see some regression when he returns to the bump. When he returns to the mound, he will likely see high-leverage opportunities in Baltimore.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Andrew Kittredge's (knee) initial timetable to return is set between June and the All-Star break. However, the righty is "optimistic" it will be on the earlier side. Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reported the news. Kittredge underwent arthroscopic knee surgery over the weekend to address the cartilage in his left knee. The 34-year-old noted that his knee began ailing him during live bullpen sessions, and doctors thought it'd be better to deal with it now than later. In 2024, the veteran was excellent, pitching to the tune of a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 37 holds over 70.2 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals. Fortunately, there's a set timetable for Kittredge's return. However, it will still be some time before he aids Baltimore's bullpen.
Andrew Kittredge Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery
The Baltimore Orioles are saying that right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) had "successful left-knee debridement" with Dr. Leigh Ann Curl in Baltimore on Friday. Kittredge is now expected to miss multiple months as he rehabs from knee surgery. It's a blow to the back end of Baltimore's bullpen to open the season, especially with their plan to ease closer Felix Bautista (elbow) back into ninth-inning duties after he missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. When he's back to full health, Kittredge figures to be a late-inning setup man for the O's. The eight-year veteran has a career 3.44 ERA (3.87 FIP) with a 1.21 WHIP, 16 saves, a 23.1% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate in 285 1/3 innings pitched. With Kittredge out for the foreseeable future, Seranthony Dominguez becomes the most likely option for occasional saves when Bautista is being rested.
Andrew Kittredge To Have Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced on Friday that right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) will have arthroscopic left-knee surgery, which will cause him to open the 2025 season on the injured list. Kittredge is expected to miss multiple months. The 34-year-old veteran was pulled from his Grapefruit League outing last Saturday due to soreness in his left knee. With Kittredge out for the first couple months of the year, it will make right-hander Seranthony Dominguez a little more interesting in deeper fantasy leagues as a high-leverage reliever as the Orioles look to ease closer Felix Bautista (elbow) in after he missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. Relievers Gregory Soto, Yennier Cano and Cionel Perez could all have bigger roles in the back end of Baltimore's bullpen as well.
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) underwent an MRI exam on his left knee and will seek multiple opinions from doctors, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. Kittredge was shut down last weekend due to soreness in his knee, and even though he has been resting, the 34-year-old is still being bothered by his knee and has no timeline for a return in camp. Even if Kittredge gets good news from his MRI exam, there's an increasing likelihood that he'll have to start the 2025 regular season on the injured list. It would be a hit to the back of Baltimore's bullpen as they attempt to ease in closer Felix Bautista (elbow) after he missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. When healthy, Kittredge, who has 16 career saves in eight MLB seasons, figures to be a high-leverage setup man for the O's after he had a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 67 K's and a save for the St. Louis Cardinals a year ago.
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) said his left-knee soreness remains despite the fact that he's taken it easy the past few days at camp. Kittredge said a small amount of inflammation remains in his knee, and the team is waiting for it to go down. As of right now, there remains no timeline on his return. The Orioles signed the 34-year-old veteran hurler to a one-year, $10 million deal in January, but it's looking like he could begin his first year in Baltimore on the injured list unless his knee heals rather quickly. With the O's planning to bring closer Felix Bautista (elbow) back slowly early on after he missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, Kittredge could be in line for occasional save opportunities at the back end of the bullpen if he's healthy. In eight major-league seasons, he has a 3.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 16 saves.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge (knee) warmed up in the bullpen, but didn't enter Saturday's game. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said the team decided to hold him out of the contest due to left knee soreness. The right-hander is reportedly already feeling better, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. This shouldn't be something that lingers into the regular season, but fantasy managers should check back for another update. The 34-year-old figures to pitch in a high-leverage role, but Felix Bautista will likely get a majority of the save chances.
Andrew Kittredge Inks One-Year Deal With Baltimore
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Baltimore Orioles have signed relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Kittredge spent the entire 2024 season pitching in St. Louis and operating as the setup man for closer Ryan Helsley. With Felix Bautista expected to reclaim the closer role in 2025, Kittredge will likely be deployed in a setup role once again. Last season, the veteran posted a 2.80 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 70 2/3 innings of work. He generated a solid 45.5% ground-ball rate and showed strong command with a 7.0% walk rate. He struck out batters at a modest 28.3% clip and generated whiffs at a 27.8% rate. Fantasy managers in leagues that score holds should view Kittredge as one of the top options, as he should be given ample opportunities to pitch with a lead on a competing Baltimore team.
According to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated, free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge could be a good fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 34-year-old operated as the go-to setup man for Ryan Helsley in St. Louis last season. Across 70 2/3 innings of work, the veteran right-hander posted a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and tallied 37 holds. He held a modest 23.3% strikeout rate and showed great command with a 7.0% walk rate. In addition, he generated a 45.5% ground-ball rate and a 27.8% whiff rate, which was also slightly above the average marks. With Arizona lacking a proven ninth-inning option, Kittredge could provide a veteran presence in the bullpen and may eventually find himself in a ninth-inning role. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor where he signs in free agency, as he could be a solid target for saves if he becomes a true closer.
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in exchange for outfielder Richie Palacios, according to a source. Kittredge returned from Tommy John surgery in August of 2023 and was able to hold opponents to a .683 OPS in his 14 relief appearances for Tampa. The 33-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2021, when he had a 1.88 ERA (3.04 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with a career-high eight saves and career-high 77 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings over 57 outings (four starts). Kittredge won't be a favorite saves in St. Louis -- that falls to Ryan Helsley -- but he'll remain in a high-leverage role and is a solid acquisition for a Cardinals bullpen that really let them down this past season. Kittredge should be relevant in deep holds leagues if he can stay healthy.
Andrew Kittredge
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Orioles
