Orioles Move Dean Kremer to Minors After Leading Team in Wins and Strikeouts

Baltimore optioned 30-year-old right-hander Dean Kremer to minor league camp on Saturday despite his 171⅔ innings pitched last season.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Baltimore Orioles officially announced that Dean Kremer was optioned to minor league camp on Saturday, a move that sends the team's 2024 leader in wins, innings, and strikeouts to the minors to begin the new campaign. The 30-year-old right-hander is coming off a season where he posted an 11-10 record and a 4.19 ERA. During that stretch, he anchored the staff by throwing 171⅔ innings and recording 142 strikeouts. Despite these contributions, the club decided to shift the veteran out of the primary rotation following a season where the team finished with a 75-87 record.

Overhauling the Baltimore Pitching Staff

This roster move highlights a significant shift in Baltimore’s strategy after the team’s collective ERA reached 4.60 last year, a mark that ranked 26th across the major leagues. To address these defensive struggles, the front office acquired Shane Baz from Tampa Bay and secured Chris Bassitt via a one-year contract worth $18.5 million. These additions aim to stabilize a group that saw the Orioles slip from their AL East title in 2023 to a losing record and a missed postseason in 2024.

Trevor Rogers has been named the Opening Day starter after establishing himself as an ace during the second half of the previous season. The rotation will also benefit from the return of Zach Eflin and Kyle Bradish. Both pitchers are coming back from various injuries that restricted their availability to a combined total of only 20 starts throughout the 2025 season. This influx of healthy arms and veteran signings pushed the Dean Kremer optioned status into effect despite his consistent workload.

Career Statistics and Roster Depth

Kremer departs the major league roster with a career record of 41-40 and a 4.26 ERA. He has made 126 career appearances, all of which have come in a Baltimore uniform. His departure to the minors signifies the organization's belief in their upgraded depth, moving away from a pitcher who led them in three major statistical categories just one year ago.

The Orioles are looking to recapture the momentum of their 2023 division-winning season. By integrating Baz and Bassitt alongside a healthy Eflin and Bradish, the team is prioritizing a lower collective ERA over the 4.60 figure produced by the previous staff. Rogers' ascension to the top of the rotation further solidified the decision to send Kremer to minor league camp as the club finalized its Opening Day roster in Sarasota.