Orioles Sign Cooke, Release Ramos During Playoffs

After finishing fourth in the AL East at 79-82, the Orioles face an offseason focused on improving their roster, particularly their starting rotation. One analyst urged Baltimore to pursue Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta, who pitched well after joining Tampa Bay and has continued that form in the postseason. The Orioles also signed right-hander Connor Cooke to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk; he had recently posted a 2.66 ERA in the independent Atlantic League. Separately, Baltimore released 19-year-old pitcher Alex Ramos, who had spent the 2025 and 2026 seasons on the injured list.