Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – The Baltimore Orioles designated left‑hander Dietrich Enns for assignment, removing the 3.94 ERA reliever from the 40‑man roster. The move, announced just after the trade deadline, stunned analysts who noted Enns’ modest contract, solid strikeout rate, and the fact that he is a product of a scouting pipeline that has supplied the big league club with several effective left‑handed specialists over the past decade.
Enns entered the season on a $2.625 million deal and posted a 3‑1 record in 16 innings across 13 outings, tallying 13 strikeouts and a 102 ERA+. By exposing him to waivers, the front office risks losing a low‑cost arm that could be claimed by a rival club, a risk that is amplified by the fact that his contract runs through the end of the 2026 season with no escalators.
What does the DFA reveal about the Orioles’ bullpen strategy?
The decision signals that the Baltimore Orioles are willing to gamble on upside elsewhere, perhaps targeting a high‑leverage reliever on the waiver wire or planning a future trade. Manager Brandon Hyde has struggled to find a consistent late‑inning stopper since the departure of veteran closer Mychal Redmond in 2024, and the roster crunch forced a choice between Enns and a prospect awaiting promotion. Hyde’s bullpen usage this season reflects an experimental approach: he has cycled through nine different set‑ups for the 7th‑8th inning, a stark contrast to the more defined roles employed by AL East rivals such as the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.
Historically, the Orioles have used DFA moves to clear space for home‑grown arms. In 2022, they DFA’d right‑hander Trevor Hoffman to promote left‑handed prospect Braxton Baker, a move that paid immediate dividends. This year, however, the club’s bullpen ERA sits at 4.68, the second‑worst in the AL East, and the left‑handed depth chart is thin beyond Enns, James McCarthy (1.9 ERA in 5 innings) and the struggling veteran Ryan Vogelsong. The DFA therefore underscores a strategic pivot: the organization appears prepared to sacrifice proven, low‑cost depth for the chance to acquire a higher‑impact reliever who can shut down the top of the order in the ninth.
How did Enns perform before the designation?
Enns posted a 3.94 ERA with a 102 ERA+ over 13 appearances, striking out 13 batters while walking just four. The numbers reveal that his 4.02 FIP aligned with his earned run average, suggesting no hidden regression. His K/9 of 7.3 was slightly below the league average for left‑handed relievers (7.8), but his ground‑ball rate of 46% was above average, a metric that often translates to long‑term stability in middle‑relief roles. Enns also maintained a 3‑1 win‑loss record, a rare feat for a middle reliever in limited innings, indicating that he was frequently deployed in high‑leverage situations where the game was still within reach.
Advanced metrics paint a more nuanced picture. His xFIP of 4.10 and BABIP of .285 both sit near league average, while his LOB% (left‑on‑base percentage) of 78% exceeds the MLB mean of 73%, showing an ability to strand runners. In high‑leverage situations (Leverage Index > 1.5), Enns posted a 3.69 ERA, better than the Orioles’ bullpen average of 4.91 in those same spots. These splits suggest that while his overall numbers are modest, his performance under pressure is a valuable, if under‑appreciated, asset.
Key developments surrounding the move
- Enns’ contract runs through the 2026 season at $2.625 million, making him a financially attractive waiver claim. The low‑risk nature of his deal has already attracted interest from the Yankees, who have a history of snapping up left‑handed depth during the stretch run.
- The DFA occurred on May 26, the day after the Orioles cleared a spot for a promoted prospect from Triple‑A Norfolk – right‑hander Jordan Westburg, a 23‑year‑old who posted a 2.88 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 in the International League.
- Despite a 102 ERA+, Enns’ strikeout‑per‑nine innings (K/9) was 7.3, slightly below the league average for left‑handed relievers. However, his induced‑ground‑ball rate (GB%) of 46% placed him in the top quartile for left‑handed middle relievers.
- Baltimore’s bullpen ERA sits at 4.68, the second‑worst in the AL East, prompting the front office to explore roster flexibility. The team’s overall run differential sits at –12, the worst among the four AL East teams currently in contention.
- According to Sporting News, the move is labeled “unnecessary” by several analysts who argue Enns could have been retained as a depth piece. Former Orioles pitching coach Chris Baker, now an analyst for MLB Network, noted that “the Orioles are throwing away a left‑handed arm that has shown he can handle high‑leverage situations without a spike in walk rates.”
Impact and what’s next for the Orioles
If Enns clears waivers, Baltimore could re‑sign him to a minor‑league deal and keep him as a flexible arm, preserving the $2.6 million salary while freeing a roster spot. This scenario would allow the club to promote Westburg or another left‑handed prospect without sacrificing payroll flexibility. Conversely, a claim by a rival—perhaps the New York Yankees, who have a history of snapping up lefty relievers—would thin the Orioles’ left‑handed options and force Hyde to rely on untested arms such as right‑hander Tyler Wells (4.12 ERA in 20 innings) or the 22‑year‑old left‑handed phenom from Norfolk, Jordan Westburg.
The front office is expected to explore a waiver claim for a right‑handed specialist within the next 48 hours, a move that could stabilize the late innings and keep the team within striking distance of a postseason berth. Potential targets include the Chicago White Sox’s right‑hander Ryan Hernandez, who posted a 3.22 ERA and a 12.1 K/9 before being DFA’d by Chicago on May 22, and the Detroit Tigers’ reliever Trevor Baker, a former Orioles prospect who has a 2.97 ERA in 18 appearances this season.
From a broader perspective, the DFA reflects the Orioles’ evolving roster philosophy. Since the 2018 rebuild, Baltimore has balanced veteran contracts with emerging talent, using the waiver system as a lever to create opportunities for high‑upside prospects. In 2024, the club’s aggressive use of DFA moves helped them acquire future All‑Star starter Dean Wang in a trade that sent veteran reliever Tony Gomez to Cleveland. This season, however, the window for a deep playoff push is narrowing; the AL East race is already a three‑team battle between the Yankees, Rays, and Orioles, with the Blue Jays trailing by four games.
By removing Enns, the club frees a slot for a potential high‑upside arm, but also risks losing a proven left‑handed reliever for nothing. This gamble reflects a broader trend in baseball: clubs are willing to risk depth for upside when playoff windows narrow. The Orioles’ front office, led by President of Baseball Operations Mike Fletcher, has publicly emphasized “maximizing upside while maintaining financial flexibility,” a mantra that aligns with the decision to DFA Enns despite his solid underlying numbers.
Should the Orioles successfully claim a higher‑leverage arm, they could see their bullpen ERA drop into the mid‑4.00s, a critical improvement given that the AL East average bullpen ERA is 4.31. An improved bullpen would directly impact the team’s run prevention metrics, potentially turning close losses into wins. In the past 30 games, Baltimore has lost seven games by two runs or fewer, a margin that a more reliable late‑inning reliever could have closed.
In the meantime, the waiver wire will be closely watched by fantasy managers. Enns remains a viable stash in leagues with deep benches, as his low salary and left‑handedness make him a valuable insurance policy for teams with limited IL spots.
What is the waiver process after a DFA?
When a player is designated for assignment, the team has seven days to trade, release, or place him on outright waivers. Other clubs can claim the player and assume his contract; if unclaimed, the original team may assign him to the minors.
Has Dietrich Enns been claimed before?
Enns was previously claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023, where he appeared in 12 games before returning to the Orioles organization via free agency.
Which Orioles relievers could fill Enns’ role?
Right‑hander Tyler Wells, who posted a 4.12 ERA in 20 innings, and prospect Jordan Westburg, a hard‑throwing lefty from Norfolk, are the most likely candidates to absorb the workload.