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.

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 F¨¦lix Bautista -- who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery -- and a trio of right-handed setup men in Yennier Cano, Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez and Kittredge. The top options from the left side will be Keegan Akin, Cionel P¨¦rez 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.¡±