The Baltimore Orioles are adding experienced bullpen help, agreeing to a major league contract with veteran right-hander Lou Trivino after his recent opt-out from the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
To clear room for Trivino on the active roster, the Orioles optioned right-handed pitcher Trey Gibson, according to MLB.com’s Jake Rill. Because Baltimore already had an open spot on its 40-man roster, no additional move was required there.
Trivino, 34, became available after exercising an opt-out clause in the minor league deal he signed with the Phillies during the offseason. The veteran reliever had joined Philadelphia on a non-roster contract after finishing the 2025 season on the club’s major league roster. As a player with more than six years of MLB service time, Trivino qualified for Article XX(B) free agency, which allowed him to include automatic opt-out dates in his minor league contract.
Philadelphia chose not to place him on its Opening Day roster, but Trivino initially remained with the organization and reported to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after passing on his first opt-out opportunity. He then put together a strong run in the minors, making a compelling case for another shot in the majors.
Over 13 innings with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Trivino posted a 2.77 ERA while showing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that made him a reliable reliever earlier in his career. He struck out 35.7 percent of opposing hitters, walked only 7.1 percent, and generated ground balls at a 50 percent rate—strong numbers across the board. Despite that performance, the Phillies chose not to add him to their big league bullpen, allowing him to trigger his second opt-out and become a free agent.
Baltimore quickly moved to capitalize, signing the veteran in hopes that he can provide immediate stability to an injury-riddled relief corps.
Trivino brings considerable major league experience with him. Across 332.1 career MLB innings, he owns a 3.87 ERA, along with a 23.5 percent strikeout rate and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate. He has also recorded 37 saves and 57 holds during his career, giving him experience in both setup and closing roles.
His résumé, however, comes with some recent uncertainty. Injuries sidelined Trivino for all of the 2023 and 2024 major league seasons, interrupting what had been a productive career. He returned to the majors in 2025 and posted a respectable 3.97 ERA, though some of his underlying metrics suggested diminished effectiveness. His strikeout and ground-ball rates both dropped below his career norms, raising questions about whether he could fully regain his previous form.
Still, his dominant start in Triple-A this season offers optimism that he may be rediscovering his old stuff now that he is further removed from those injury setbacks.
Baltimore’s need for bullpen reinforcements is significant. The Orioles currently have 11 players on the injured list, including four relievers. The bullpen has been especially thin after the team learned that Félix Bautista would miss most or all of the 2026 season recovering from shoulder surgery. Ryan Helsley, signed to fill the closer’s role, is also sidelined with elbow inflammation, while Yaramil Hiraldo and Colin Selby remain unavailable as well.
With the bullpen depleted, Trivino should have an immediate opportunity to carve out a meaningful role. The Orioles are hoping his veteran presence and experience can help stabilize a relief unit that has been stretched thin by injuries.
One final note: because of his service time, Trivino cannot be sent to the minors without his consent, meaning Baltimore’s commitment is a true major league opportunity. If he performs well, he could quickly become an important piece of the Orioles’ bullpen plans moving forward.
Leave a Reply