Keegan Akin loses arbitration hearing with Baltimore

The Baltimore Orioles on Saturday won their wage dispute in arbitration against left-handed reliever Keegan Akin in the organization’s second hearing of the offseason. A three-person arbitration panel — John Stout, Gene Charles and Samantha Tower — ruled in the team’s favor, setting Akin’s 2026 salary at $2.975 million. The 30-year-old asked for $3.375 million, meaning he will make $400,000 less than the asking amount in his final year of arbitration eligibility.

It was the first arbitration win for the club this year after the players won five of the first six cases. Detroit Tigers left-hander Tariq Skubal set the record by winning the prize of 32 million dollarsthe largest arbitration salary ever. Baltimore split its two arbitration hearings, with right-hander Kyle Bradish securing a $3.55 million award after rejecting the Orioles’ $2.875 million offer earlier this month.

Akin’s arbitration history includes a salary of $825,000 in his first year of arbitration, followed by $1.475 million last season. This year’s hearing was his third in the process, and the lefty previously reached deals with the team in his first two arbitration-eligible seasons.

Akin, who will turn 31 in April, spent his entire six-season MLB career in Baltimore. Since debuting in 2020, he has appeared in 368 innings and compiled a 16-22 record with a 4.48 ERA and 11 career saves. He made the transition from the swingman role in the 2020–21 season. to a full-time reliever in 2022, posting a 3.20 ERA in 81⅔ innings that season with a 49.3% ground ball rate and just a 6.1% walk rate. Akin struggled in 23⅓ innings in 2023, surrendering a 6.85 ERA. He missed most of the season with a lower back injury. The following season, however, saw a rebound, as he pitched 78⅔ innings with a 3.32 ERA and a career-best 24.9% strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Akin appeared in 64 games exclusively out of the bullpen in 2025, going 5–4 with a 3.41 ERA. He went 63⅓ innings, striking out 59 batters, walking 33 and picking up eight saves.

While the Orioles picture remains unsettled entering spring training, Akin is a strong contender for the Opening Day roster if healthy. He is one of three left-handers currently on the 40-man roster, along with Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram. Starter Cade Povich is also a potential bench option.