Orioles Grab Hard-Throwing Reliever From Pirates
Baltimore optioned Sanders to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred left-hander Keegan Akin to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot.
The Akin Situation
The move was driven by a significant injury.
Akin has been sidelined since late June with a UCL injury and is slated for a visit with Dr. Keith Meister, with the veteran lefty appearing headed toward an extended absence.
The Pirates have traded RHP Cam Sanders to the Orioles for cash considerations. Sanders was designated for assignment Saturday to make room on the roster after the trade with the White Sox
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) July 13, 2026
He has been a regular on Baltimore's staff since his 2020 debut and was relied on in high-leverage situations, including as the closer last year when he recorded a career-best eight saves.
Why Baltimore Took a Shot
Sanders, 29, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh last week after the Pirates acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert from the White Sox.
His numbers are rough.
He posted an 8.68 ERA across nine appearances and 9.1 innings this season, allowing nine hits with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts, and carries an 8.44 career ERA across 15 appearances over two seasons.
Wildness has been the defining issue of his professional career.
But there is something to work with.
Sanders' four-seamer and slider both posted whiff rates above 40 percent in his limited big league time this year, indicating genuine swing-and-miss stuff behind the command problems.
The key for Baltimore's development staff will be getting those pitches in the strike zone more consistently.
Sanders was a 12th-round pick by the Cubs in the 2018 draft out of LSU and spent his entire professional career in Chicago's system before signing a minor league deal with Pittsburgh last year.
He is the son of former Padres pitcher Scott Sanders.
