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Orioles Add Left-Handed Reliever Josh Walker to Bullpen
The Baltimore Orioles added left-hander Josh Walker, 31, to their major league roster on May 13, 2026, giving them a fourth left-handed reliever. Walker previously pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 before a series of trades and transactions that took him through the Philadelphia Phillies. The move comes as the Blue Jays contend with multiple pitching injuries and recent roster changes.
May 13, 7:00 AM·2m read1 source
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The Baltimore Orioles selected left-hander Josh Walker to their roster, Forbes reported. 95 ERA across 146 minor league innings dating back to the start of 2022. The addition gives the Orioles a fourth lefty in their bullpen alongside Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram.
Walker will look to translate his recent minor league success to the majors after a winding path through three organizations in little more than a year. The Toronto Blue Jays signed Walker in December 2024. 20 ERA in 10 innings for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before the Blue Jays recalled him in April 2025.
Walker handled five innings in the majors for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025. The Blue Jays optioned him back to Triple-A after a short big-league stint, then traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same month. The Philadelphia Phillies designated Walker for assignment.
The Baltimore Orioles claimed him off waivers, cut him after the claim, and later reacquired him. Walker last appeared in a major league game on May 4, 2025, when he pitched as a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher at Rogers Centre in Toronto against the Cleveland Guardians. Forbes reported the development on May 13, 2026.
The Blue Jays, who reached Game 7 of the World Series in the 2025 season, are struggling to recapture that momentum. The team sits toward the bottom of the American League East, with injuries and poor performances taking a toll. Most recently, the Toronto Blue Jays designated Eric Lauer for assignment.
Immediately afterward, the team called up Yariel Rodriguez. With Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios and Max Scherzer all sidelined, the Blue Jays could need another arm soon. The update on Walker arrives as Toronto considers both internal and external pitching options.
