The Windy City is wheeling and dealing, and this time, Charm City is joining in the deals.
After trading infielder Ramón Urías to the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles are sending right-hander Andrew Kittredge to the Chicago Cubs.
Kittredge becomes the fourth reliever (RHP Bryan Baker, LHP Gregory Soto and RHP Seranthony Domínguez) to be moved by the Orioles during the trade season. This more than assures the O’s will be revamping their bullpen for the 2026 season while also auditioning for other players to earn a role for the rest of this season.
Kittredge was brought to Baltimore to help the back-end of the bullpen on a one-year, $9 million deal, with a club option for the 2026 season. Unfortunately, the free agent signing backfired right out of the gate.
The 35-year-old spent the first 60 days of the season on the IL with left knee debridement, putting a key piece of the bullpen out of commission for the first quarter of the year.
Since Kittredge has returned, he has pitched in 31 games, going 2-2 while accumulating 31.1 innings of work. He has picked up seven holds while maintaining a 3.45 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, his lowest since 2022.
Kittredge has struck out 32 batters while walking just eight. He has also inherited six runners, allowing two of them to score, and has held opponents to a .222 average in 2025.
Reports are stating that the deal between these two clubs occurred earlier in the evening on Wednesday and that more details will be announced Thursday morning pertaining to the return package for Kitteridge.
Stay tuned all day to The Baltimore Battery for more on this trade and updates on any deals coming prior to the 6 p.m. EST deadline on Thursday.
UPDATE: Sources are confirming that Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz, who recently signed with the Cubs during the 2024-2025 International Signing Period, is the player heading to the Orioles in this trade for Kittredge.
De La Cruz, 17, has compiled a slash line of .262/.442/.417/.859 in 27 games with the Dominican Summer League Cubs. The San Francisco de Macoris native has collected 22 hits and nine RBIs in 84 at-bats this season, stealing nine bases and posting 24 to 26 strikeout to walk ratio.
De La Cruz is now the Orioles’ No. 21 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
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