Orioles Option RHP Chayce McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk in Spring Cuts

The Baltimore Orioles optioned right-hander Chayce McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk on March 3, 2026, a move noted by Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com and carried by RotoWire and FantasyPros. The 27-year-old righty has been shifted into a full-time relief role in camp but will begin the season at the organization’s top affiliate rather than the major league bullpen.

McDermott’s Grapefruit League line was compact and revealing: three innings pitched, six strikeouts, one walk for a 6:1 K:BB, and three solo home runs allowed. As Bruno Mulé summarized the report, “McDermott has transitioned to a full-time bullpen role. He struck out six against one walk across three Grapefruit League innings this spring, but he also surrendered three solo home runs.” RotoWire added the club’s assessment: “McDermott has impressed the Orioles this spring as he makes a full-time move to the bullpen, but he will continue working on things at Norfolk at the beginning of the season.”

The option is part of a broader round of spring cuts that left the Orioles’ big camp smaller. Kubatko’s roster update on March 3 listed multiple moves: “The #Orioles have made the following roster moves: Optioned RHP Chayce McDermott to minor league camp. Reassigned RHP Jeisson Cabrera, INF Payton Eeles, RHP Keagan Gillies, and RHP Richard Guasch to minor league camp. Spring Training roster currently has 69 players.” MASN reporting tied in related actions, noting the club also optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk and designated RHP Jonathan Heasley for assignment as the 40-man roster remained intact at 40 players.

McDermott’s recent transaction history shows a pitcher on the fringes of the big-league roster. His contract was selected and he made his major league debut after Baltimore selected his contract on July 24, 2024; the MASN item at that time said he would wear No. 60 and start that night. In 2025 he moved between Norfolk and Baltimore multiple times: rehab assignment May 3, 2025, several recalls and options in May 2025, placement on the 15-day injured list for back discomfort on September 23, 2025, and activation from that IL on September 29, 2025. The MILB and MLB transaction logs list those dates and multiple activations and options dating back to 2023 and 2024.

For fantasy players and organizational depth charts the immediate takeaway is clear: McDermott’s strikeout upside earned him attention in camp, but the three solo homers and the decision to start the year in Triple-A Norfolk temper expectations. FantasyPros summed the practical result: “He will open the season with the organization's top affiliate.” The Orioles will monitor his adaptation to a full-time bullpen role at Norfolk before determining whether his high swing-and-miss stuff translates to sustained big-league relief work.