The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a trade with the Athletics.© Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
The Baltimore Orioles have had a lackluster season so far, but a lot of it is not their fault. They have dealt with some of the worst injury luck in the league, and it has shown in the standings.
Entering Friday, Baltimore sat four games under .500 at 20-24. One area hit especially hard has been the pitching rotation, which has forced the bullpen into heavier workloads.
The bullpen is also not at full strength, with All-Star closing pitcher Ryan Helsley currently on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. With the staff taking on expanded workload, the Orioles made a move Friday with hopes of adding depth back into their system.
The Orioles completed a trade with the Washington Nationals on Friday. They acquired right-hander Eduarniel Nunez from the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. In a corresponding move, right-hander Christian Roa was designated for assignment (h/t Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports).
Nunez was one of four players the Athletics received from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Mason Miller and JP Sears at last year’s trade deadline. He was the fourth prospect in the deal but also the closest to MLB action.
Last season, Nunez pitched in six games for the A's and allowed eight runs on nine hits, struggling with command and hitting two batters. The Athletics hoped he would take a step forward in 2026, but that has not happened.
Nunez owns a 4.61 ERA through 13 2/3 innings in the minors this year, and command remains an issue.
Nunez has also experienced a big velocity drop this season. His four-seam fastball used to averaged 98 mph last year but it now sits at 95 mph so far in 2026. The Orioles likely believe they can help him regain his form and have some mechanical adjustments in mind. They will have time to work with him too considering he does not have a full year of big-league service time. However, to do so they must keep him on the 40-man roster, which is currently full.
As for Roa, the Orioles claimed him earlier this week after he was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins. Baltimore will likely look to trade him, place him on outright waivers or release him. Ideally, the organization hopes he clears waivers and accepts an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.
Overall, these moves are not guaranteed to impact the major league roster immediately, but they could become meaningful if the Orioles can unlock Nunez’s potential.