The Baltimore Orioles are signing Kyle Gibson to a one-year contract, agreeing to terms with the veteran right-handed starting pitcher on Friday.
This will be the veteran’s second stint in Baltimore. He spent the 2023 season with the Orioles, starting 33 games and posting a 15-9 record, 4.73 ERA, 1.318 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in 192 innings.
The 37-year-old has 12 years of major league experience, playing for the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals. Minnesota selected him in the first round of the 2009 draft (No. 22 overall).
In 2021, Gibson secured his first All-Star selection, going 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 113 innings over 19 starts with the Rangers. He was then dealt at the trade deadline to the Phillies.
Gibson has not recaptured those heights, but he is still an above-average starting pitcher. Last season, he tossed 169 2/3 innings for the Cardinals, going 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 151 strikeouts. Baseball Reference credited him with a 1.0 WAR.
Two Orioles starters will open the season on the injured list. Grayson Rodriguez is out with right triceps and elbow injuries; he began throwing from 75 feet on Tuesday. Kyle Bradish is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected back until at least after the All-Star break.