Tyler Wells DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

MLB.com's Jake Rill reports that Baltimore Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells (elbow) is throwing but isn't putting any spin on the ball or going off a mound yet. Wells, who is recovering from UCL reconstruction via internal-brace surgery last June, doesn't have a target date for his return and is primarily focused on daily improvement while continuing to progress. The 30-year-old veteran won't be an option for the Orioles' starting rotation until around midseason in a best-case scenario, so he can be avoided in single-year fantasy drafts this spring. He had a career year in 2023 with the O's, going 7-6 with a career-best 3.64 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 118 2/3 innings over 25 outings (20 starts), but he made just three starts in 2024 before being shut down. Wells makes up for his lack of high-end velocity with plus control and elite movement of his pitches.

The Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Tyler Wells (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million deal on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source. Wells had an internal-brace procedure to fix the UCL in his right elbow in mid-June, which limited him to only three starts in 2024 for the Orioles. Because of the timing of the surgery, the 30-year-old veteran is expected to miss at least the first half of the 2025 campaign. Despite that, he'll receive a $1.96 million raise as an arbitration-eligible player. Fantasy managers in all single-year leagues can avoid wells in drafts this spring. The former 15th-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of California State San Bernardino has a 4.06 career ERA with a 1.04 WHIP, a 271:77 K:BB and five saves in his four years with the O's covering 294 2/3 innings over 95 outings (46 starts).

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said the team is expecting both right-handers Kyle Bradish (elbow) and Tyler Wells (elbow) to be ready to return around midseason in 2025. When Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-June with an internal brace, he was given a 12- to 18-month recovery timetable. The 28-year-old has yet to resume throwing, so it's almost a certainty that he won't make his 2025 debut until after the All-Star break. Wells also had season-ending surgery in mid-June due to UCL revision surgery while also receiving an internal brace. Bradish is the more established starter in Baltimore, while Wells' role is to be determined whenever he's ready to return. Bradish broke out to the tune of a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 30 starts in 2023 and had a 2.75 ERA after eight starts this past season before injuring his elbow.