The Orioles have acquired Cody Poteet in a trade.
On Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles strengthened their pitching staff by acquiring right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. The 30-year-old had been designated for assignment by the Cubs earlier in the week to clear space on the 40-man roster for Brad Keller. Poteet will join Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles’ 40-man roster is now at 39 players.
While a relatively low-key move, the trade provides significant depth to the Orioles’ pitching staff, which is currently facing a series of injuries. Baltimore is missing key rotation arms in Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers, Chayce McDermott, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells, making Poteet a timely and valuable addition.
Poteet, originally drafted by the Marlins in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, made his major league debut with Miami in 2021. His first stint as a starter was inconsistent, with a 4.99 ERA over seven starts. However, in a bullpen/spot starter role in 2022, he showed improvement, posting a 3.86 ERA in 28 innings across 12 appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery later that year.
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After spending most of 2023 rehabbing, Poteet signed with the Yankees and impressed in limited action. In 2024, he posted a 2.22 ERA over 24 1/3 innings, along with a 3.40 ERA in 13 Triple-A starts, showcasing potential as a reliable depth option.
In December, Poteet was included in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. The deal, primarily viewed as a salary dump by the Cubs, brought Poteet to Chicago while also freeing up Bellinger’s contract. With the Cubs reshaping their outfield by adding Kyle Tucker and rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong, Bellinger became expendable.
However, Poteet never had the opportunity to contribute in Chicago. With the Cubs’ rotation depth and the impending return of Javier Assad, the team chose to DFA Poteet before Opening Day. Just a few months after being acquired, he’s on the move again.
For the Orioles, this is a low-risk, high-upside acquisition. Poteet offers flexibility as a versatile arm who can serve in either a starting or long-relief role. While the Orioles’ current rotation—featuring Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, and Cade Povich—remains intact, injuries have depleted their pitching depth. Poteet could step in if another starter is sidelined or could be used in the bullpen in a multi-inning role.
Veteran swingman Albert Suarez is currently the next man up, but Poteet provides manager Brandon Hyde with additional protection—something every contender needs throughout a 162-game season.
From the Cubs’ perspective, this move has drawn frustration from fans. The team traded a productive player in Bellinger for financial flexibility but hasn’t reinvested that savings into the roster. As ESPN’s Jesse Rogers pointed out, the return was essentially cash and little else. Unless the Cubs make significant upgrades at the trade deadline, the optics of these moves are likely to continue to draw criticism. For now, the Orioles gain a versatile arm, while Poteet finds himself on his third team in four months, hoping this stop offers him some stability.
Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and football enthusiast, he works for Arizona Football in the Player Personnel and Recruiting department and formerly served as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School.
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