Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Option for 2026 exercised
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The Orioles exercised Kittredge's $9 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Orioles reacquired Kittredge from the Cubs earlier this week after dealing him to Chicago at the deadline, so it was a foregone conclusion that the reliever's option would be picked up. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. He'll be a high-leverage reliever for Baltimore in 2026 and could even serve as closer, depending on what else the Orioles do with their bullpen this offseason.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Traded back to Orioles
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The Orioles acquired Kittredge from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Kittredge was dealt from the Orioles to the Cubs at the trade deadline and is now headed back to Baltimore. The Orioles have a $9 million option on Kittredge for 2026, which they will now presumably exercise. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. Baltimore has an opening at closer for 2026 and Kittredge could be the current favorite to fill it, though the team is likely to add additional relievers this offseason.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Records save in postseason win
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Kittredge recorded the final two outs to earn the save in Thursday's win over the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Kittredge played a versatile role for the Cubs during their series against the Padres, as he served as the opener in Game 2. One day later, he relieved Brad Keller in the ninth inning with the game-tying run at second base. Kittredge has allowed one earned run across 2.2 innings this postseason.
Kittredge will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
Kittredge turned in a 3.32 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 21.2 innings in the regular season with the Cubs while serving primarily as a high-leverage reliever. The 35-year-old righty will now be tasked with securing the first few outs of Wednesday's contest before presumably handing the game over to Shota Imanaga for bulk-relief work.
Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Used in seventh inning Tuesday
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Kittredge worked a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Pirates, though it was Brad Keller who got the ninth and the save.
Keller earned a one-out save Monday and then received a more conventional opportunity a night later, with Kittredge working the seventh inning. Kittredge recorded the Cubs' first three saves after Daniel Palencia (shoulder) hit the injured list, but it appears that Keller is in the closer mix as well. That gives both veteran relievers a temporary boost in fantasy value, though it may be hard to predict who manager Craig Counsell will turn to in the ninth for any given contest. Kittredge has at least earned the opportunity for more high-leverage work, as he has a 2.89 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 18.2 innings with Chicago since joining the team at the trade deadline.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Grabs fifth save
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Kittredge earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Rays, striking out three and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Kittredge was brought in to protect a one-run lead and worked around a two-out walk to Yandy Diaz by fanning Junior Caminero to shut the door against his former team. It marked the right-hander's third straight outing with a save and extended his scoreless streak to eight appearances. The veteran reliever now owns five saves on the year while continuing to provide the Cubs with steady late-inning work.
Kittredge picked up the save Friday against the Rays, recording one strikeout while retiring all three batters he faced.
It's the second straight outing with a save for Kittredge, who appears to be manager Craig Counsell's top choice at closer with Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the shelf. Brad Keller also seemed to be in the closer mix but has worked the eighth inning ahead of Kittredge in those two games.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Closes out Atlanta for save
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Kittredge picked up the save Wednesday against Atlanta, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.
It's notable that Kittredge saw Chicago's first save opportunity since closer Daniel Palencia (shoulder) landed on the injured list. That usage would appear to put him first in line for future save chances, though it's certainly still possible that manager Craig Counsell has a committee approach in mind for his closer position for the time being. Kittredge is worth a speculative add in most fantasy formats as this situation unfolds -- the veteran right-hander owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 52:10 K:BB through 47 innings on the season.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Could see ninth-inning work
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With Daniel Palencia (shoulder) landing on the injured list Monday, Kittredge is an option to see more high-leverage work at the end of games, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Sharma notes that Chicago manager Craig Counsell is likely to deploy a committee approach to the ninth inning with Palencia out, rather than settle on a single closer. Kittredge is in that mix, though fellow righty Brad Keller might be a bit ahead of him in the bullpen pecking order and is probably the favorite for saves at the moment. The Cubs also have Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz as options from the left side. Kittredge probably will get a bump in fantasy value with Palencia out, but it remains to be seen exactly what the former's role will be.
Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Earns fourth win in relief
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Kittredge (4-3) tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to earn the win in Monday's 7-6, extra-inning victory over Atlanta.
Kittredge was tasked with working the top of the 10th inning, and he breezed through the frame on 13 pitches. The righty then earned his second win with his new team when Carson Kelly delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th. Since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, Kittredge has a 4.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 13 innings, and he's settled into a setup role ahead of closer Daniel Palencia.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Earns another save Tuesday
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Kittredge tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Regular closer Daniel Palencia secured the save in the first game Tuesday, but the Cubs didn't use him for the nightcap, instead turning to Kittredge to protect a 4-1 lead. The veteran righty breezed through the top of the ninth inning on 10 pitches, giving him his second save in the last three days. Palencia is still the top option out of the Chicago bullpen, but it appears that Kittredge has earned some trust in late-game situations when needed.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Earns first win with Cubs
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Kittredge (3-3) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Pirates. He allowed a hit and struck out two.
Starter Shota Imanaga departed after seven strong innings and the score tied 1-1, leaving the top of the eighth to Kittredge. After the righty got through the frame, the Cubs scored twice in the bottom of the inning, giving Kittredge his first win with the team since coming over in a trade on July 30. He had one rough outing with Chicago on Aug. 5, allowing four runs while only retiring one batter, but Kittredge has otherwise recorded six scoreless appearances for the Cubs. The veteran should continue to occupy a high-leverage role.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Picks up first save
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Kittredge turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.
With Daniel Palencia seemingly unavailable, it was Kittredge who was tasked with protecting a one-run lead in the ninth. The veteran right-hander, who was appearing in a third straight game, retired the side on 10 pitches to pick up his first save this season. Since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, Kittredge has held opponents scoreless in six of his seven appearances to work his way into a high-leverage role. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.76 with a 1.07 WHIP and 42 strikeouts across 38.1 innings between Chicago and Baltimore.
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