Kremer, who had been with Baltimore since 2020 after being part of the Manny Machado trade with the Dodgers, had a solid if unspectacular track record as an innings eater, posting a 4.26 ERA across 126 appearances for the Orioles. His removal from the initial 26-man roster this spring has been linked to the Orioles’ offseason decisions to retain Eflin and add Chris Bassitt along with Shane Baz, with Trey Rogers and Kyle Bradish viewed as locks for the rotation.
The promotion raises questions about Kremer’s long-term role and service time. As of 2026, Kremer carried four years and 112 days of service time. If he remains on the active roster for 60 days, he would gain limited options to be sent to the minors and would become a free agent after the 2027 season. Short of the 60-day threshold, Baltimore would gain a year of service time and retain the ability to option him next season.
Baltimore also optioned Cade Povich back to the minor leagues after his start against the San Francisco Giants. Povich, who has struggled with consistency in earlier seasons, posted a 2.19 ERA across 12.1 innings in two 2026 appearances but remains a roster puzzle for the Orioles as they weigh Kremer’s performance and potential future use.
The Orioles could opt for a four-man rotation given remaining off days, contingent on Kremer’s performance and how the team manages service time. Kremer’s major league debut for the season will be closely watched to determine whether he solidifies a longer-term spot in Baltimore’s rotation or influences next moves for Povich and the pitching staff.
