BALTIMORE — After spending the first seven seasons of his MLB career with Tampa Bay, Andrew Kittredge has a strong knowledge of the recent history between the Rays and Orioles, a pair of American League East rivals.

“I think it was in 2021, when I was with Tampa, we won 18 out of 19 against the Orioles,” Kittredge said.

That’s correct. The rebuilding O’s had their share of struggles with the Rays that season.

“And then, two years later, they’ve got the best record in the American League,” Kittredge said.

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Also correct. Baltimore went an AL-best 101-61 while winning the AL East in 2023, and it has won an AL-high 192 games over the past two seasons.

That success is why Kittredge is looking forward to joining the Orioles, who signed the 34-year-old right-hander to a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $10 million on Jan. 13. On Tuesday, Kittredge expressed his excitement during an introductory Zoom call with the media.

“Pretty cool to watch the turnaround that the organization has made, and just competing for the American League every year,” Kittredge said. “Hopefully, this year, we’re competing for the American League again, and then beyond that.”Kittredge had already thought Baltimore was a good landing spot for him earlier this month, hence why he signed the contract (which features a club option for 2026). Then, he heard more positive things about the O’s from a fellow pitcher.

Veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson, who played for the Orioles in 2023, contacted Kittredge, his Cardinals teammate in ‘24, shortly after the news broke.

“He reached out, congratulating me on the deal, and had nothing but great things to say about the organization,” Kittredge said. “I was excited hearing from someone who’s been here recently, to kind of know that the clubhouse is in a good spot and there’s a strong desire to win here, and there’s an expectation to win here. A lot to be really excited about.”

There’s plenty for the O’s to be excited about as well. Kittredge is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign in which he recorded a 2.80 ERA in 70 2/3 innings over a career-high 74 appearances for St. Louis. He’s also a former All-Star, earning a nod in ‘21, when he set career bests in ERA (1.88), innings pitched (71 2/3) and WHIP (0.98).

The back end of Baltimore’s bullpen should feature returning All-Star closer Félix Bautista — who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery — and a trio of right-handed setup men in Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez and Kittredge. The top options from the left side will be Keegan Akin, Cionel Pérez and Gregory Soto.

“I did talk to [manager] Brandon [Hyde] a little bit, and I think there’s just a lot of excitement for the bullpen in general, the arms that we’re going to have down there,” Kittredge said.

“I’ve always kind of just had the attitude of, ‘Use me where you want to, and I’ll try to do my best to be ready in any situation.’ I expect to be in the mix there late in games, but also, I’m willing to do whatever is needed.”

Kittredge’s predominant pitch is his slider, which he threw 49.4% of the time last year. He also has a sinker (37.5%) and a four-seam fastball (12.5%) that he plays off his breaking offering.

The results have been sensational. According to Baseball Savant, Kittredge’s chase rate has ranked in the 100th percentile in MLB three times — 2019, ‘21 and ‘24. Those are also the three seasons in which he’s thrown at least 49 2/3 innings during his big league career.

“I trust that [the slider’s] going to be there even more so than the sinker. So when in doubt, that’s what I want to get beat with,” Kittredge said. “I think they pair really well together.”

Much like the O’s and Kittredge, who is eager to get going (and start winning) with his new club.

“At this point in my career, I want to win. I want to contend,” Kittredge said. “And this was a really good opportunity for me to do that.”