"Tanner Scott likes that"; "This isn't Roki Sasaki" - MLB fans react to Orioles signing Andrew Kittredge for $10,000,000

Blatimore Orioles signed free agent reliever Andrew Kittredge on a one-year, $10 million deal on Friday, attracting a variety reactions from fans on social media.

The 34-year-old is coming off a strong season with the St. Louis Cardinals and would add good depth to the Baltimore bullpen. While the deal hasn't been confirmed by the Orioles yet, fans have reacted to reports about the same:

"Tanner Scott likes that," wrote one fan on X.

"This isn't Roki Sasaki," added another on Instagram.

Fan reaction

While some fans urged the front office to sign the likes of Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott, others complained about overpaying for a reliever. Some were happy with the move, though:

"10 for Kittredge? Reliever market is over priced," wrote @grant_hathaway9 on X.

"No, it’s not the ace we’re looking for, but we needed middle relief help and this is an upgrade over Jacob Webb. Good signing," added @Orioles29292.

"Wish it was Tanner Scott, but okay let’s see has this pans out!" wrote @AC_Vorce.

Andrew Kittredge was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2008 MLB Draft but was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016. Despite making his major league debut with them in 2017, Kittredge stuggled in his first few years before his first All-Star season in 2021, recording a 1.88 ERA in 57 games. He was traded to the Cardinals last season before entering free agency.

Baltimore Orioles fans are eager to see their front office sign an exciting ace, and the Orioles have been linked with Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott. However, they were in need of a middle order reliever, and Kittredge promises to be a valuable addition to the bullpen. It remains to be seen if the Orioles add a starting pitcher before Spring Training.

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The stats behind Baltimore Orioles new signing Andrew Kittredge

Spending $10 million on a reliever like Andrew Kittredge has led many to blame the Baltimore Orioles of driving the price up for relievers in the free agent market. However, taking a look at his numbers from last year justifies why the Baltimore side were willing to pay him.

Kittredge made a career-high 74 appearances last season, recording a respectable 2.80 ERA over the year. However, his chase rate of 38.9 stands out the most as the best in the entire MLB. He's a promising reliever with plenty of experience who is a good candidate for any team look for some bulpen depth.