Red Sox Division Rival Demotes Struggling All-Star Pitcher
Not much has gone according to plan for the Baltimore Orioles this season.
Following consecutive playoff appearances, the Orioles are last in the American League East at 33-43. A promising lineup has fallen short of expectations, and the rotation remains a massive concern after losing Corbin Burnes in free agency and Grayson Rodriguez to a preseason elbow injury.
The bullpen has also struggled, entering Sunday with a 4.47 team ERA. They sent down a prominent under-performing reliever, optioning Yennier Cano to Triple-A.
Cano made an All-Star appearance in 2023 before finishing his official rookie season with a 2.11 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 72 appearances. While the 6-foot-4 righty regressed last season, he maintained a 3.15 ERA with five saves and 34 holds despite his walk rate ballooning from 4.6 to 9.6 percent.
Cano began the 2025 campaign by allowing one unearned run in a dominant April. However, he’s since surrendered 21 hits, seven walks and 14 runs in 17 innings.
On Wednesday, Cano contributed to Baltimore squandering an early 8-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays by allowing four runs in the fifth inning. The Orioles optioned the Cuban native despite him striking out the side (including Aaron Judge) during Saturday’s 9-0 loss to the New York Yankees.
Despite his bloated 4.73 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, Cano has the highest strikeout rate (27.4%) of his career. The ground-ball pitcher has already served up four home runs, but keeping the ball in the park could prompt a bounce-back. Cano actually boasts a career-best SIERA (2.73) and xFIP (2.85).
Baltimore replaced Cano by promoting Yaramil Hiraldo, a 29-year-old righty who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his only big-league appearance on May 27. Hiraldo has a 2.77 ERA in 26 minor-league innings this season.
Meanwhile, the bullpen cost Baltimore another game on Sunday. Bryan Baker allowed three runs in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Yankees that pushed the Orioles down 12 games in the AL East standings.