The Orioles announced that right-hander Dom Hamel was claimed off waivers from the Mets. Hamel has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore already had a vacancy on its 40-man roster so no further transaction was required.
New York designated Hamel for assignment earlier this week, and the 26-year-old will change organizations for the first time in his pro career. Hamel was a third-round pick for the Mets in the 2021 draft, and his time with the club culminated in his Major League debut this past Wednesday. Despite three singles and a hit batter over a single inning of work, Hamel escaped from his first MLB game without allowing any runs.
The long ball has been Hamel’s biggest obstacle in his climb up the minor league ladder, as his homer rate spiked considerably once he made his Triple-A debut in 2024. Over 192 1/3 innings at Triple-A Syracuse, Hamel allowed 35 home runs, which contributed heavily to his 6.27 ERA in the last two seasons. On the plus side, he did post a solid strikeout rate at Triple-A, and he cut his walk rate from 13.2% in 2024 to 7.4% this season.
The 2025 campaign has also seen Hamel go from a full-fledged starter role to more usage as a relief pitcher, sometimes in a regular bullpen role and other times as an opener or as a multi-inning reliever. At least the bottom-line numbers were somewhat better for Hamel as a reliever (4.61 ERA) than as a starter (6.18 ERA), though the role change didn’t exactly unlock a new level of success.
Baltimore’s claim gives the Orioles some time to evaluate Hamel both in the remainder of this season and into the winter. While Hamel might well be a DFA candidate again depending on how the Orioles upgrade their 40-man roster during the offseason, he has all three of his minor league options remaining, so that flexibility could give him some extra appeal to Baltimore’s 2026 bullpen plans.
DFA’d pitcher with all his options? Bring it on!
Zero downside to bringing him aboard other than possibly the losing of a spot on the 40 man for other potential Rule 5 eligible players in the minors. that’s a problem for tomorrow Eve Rosenblum.
get this guy into the system and see up close if there are things to tweak. you have until the 40 man rosters need to be submitted to the league to protect from this year’s Rule 5 draft.
It’s certainly not as if the Orioles have anything better to do at this time of year – like playing postseason games. 🤷♂️
@ bluey
For 29 out of 30 teams, the last taste in your mouth will be bitterness and disappointment. Chances that’ll happen for your team too.
The first step in avoiding that same disappointment in 2026 is doing what you can to improve the team in 2025.
Baby steps.
Good for him, before Hefner and Stearns ruin him permanently, he’ll have a chance
In addition to DOM Hamel, the Orioles will soon be adding:
JOE Hamel
AND
VINCE Hamel
If you release them, they will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
Bad move by the Mets they should’ve let either Stanek, Helsley or Brazoban go instead of Hamel
jvent: Sure, actual experienced MLB pitchers instead of a AAA non-prospect farmhand.
That’s why you’re not working in any team’s baseball operations.
Why? What has Hamel done to warrant any consideration?
He cannot have all 3 options left since the Orioles just used 1.
That’s including the current season. They’ll have two more option years remaining after this season ends.
well, the Mets used one. the Orioles acquired a guy who had his 1st option used this season.
Hopefully he doesn’t turn out like Mike Vasil, another “genius” David Stearns’s move
And the anti-Mets troll is in the house.
We’ve officially entered the Baseball Mogul Name Generator portion of the roster moves season.