Phillies Receive Disheartening Update on Potential Félix Bautista Trade
The Philadelphia Phillies have been dealing with a series of setbacks in their bullpen, notably highlighted by the suspension of José Alvarado. This loss has already left a noticeable gap in their relief pitching staff. Making matters worse, Jordan Romano’s continued inconsistency has further strained the team’s ability to maintain late-game leads. These issues have translated into a subpar bullpen ERA of 4.58 — one of the lowest in Major League Baseball, ranking seventh worst overall.
As the team looks to address this glaring weakness, speculation had been mounting around Félix Bautista as a prime trade target. Bautista, who recently returned from Tommy John surgery, seemed like the perfect addition to stabilize the bullpen. So far this season, he’s recorded a 3.32 ERA, and his recent outings have shown promise: in his last seven appearances, he’s allowed only a single run. Many analysts believed he was beginning to rediscover the elite form that earned him a stellar 1.48 ERA in 2023.
Despite these hopeful signs, the Phillies may need to cross Bautista off their wishlist. MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic recently reported that a trade for the Orioles’ closer is unlikely. Although the Baltimore Orioles are expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, Rosenthal and Sammon caution that the team is also preparing for a return to competitiveness by 2026 — a factor that could make them reluctant to part with players like Bautista.
The insiders explained, “The Orioles will be sellers, that much is fairly obvious. But as they point toward a possible return to contention in 2026, it would behoove them to be buyers, too.” While they acknowledged that both Andrew Kittredge and Félix Bautista could generate interest, the Orioles have control over both beyond this season. Kittredge is under a club option for $9 million, while Bautista remains under team control through arbitration for two more years.
Bautista’s contract situation only adds to the complexity. He is making just $1 million this season — a bargain by MLB standards — and while his performance hasn’t yet reached 2023 levels, it’s understandable given that he’s still recovering from major surgery. His strikeout rate has dipped from a dominant 46.1% in 2023 to 30.1% this season, and his walk rate has increased from 11% to 17.2%. Given these fluctuations, Rosenthal and Sammon believe this is not the optimal time for the Orioles to trade him. If they hold onto him, Bautista could be a cornerstone of their bullpen by 2026, when he’s another year removed from surgery and presumably closer to his pre-injury self.
This outlook is a clear blow for the Phillies, who had pinned some hopes on acquiring a top-tier reliever to bolster their postseason ambitions. With Bautista likely off the market, Philadelphia’s front office may have to turn its attention to other options to address their bullpen concerns.
Fortunately for other interested teams, the Orioles have no shortage of potential trade assets that could be available this summer. Among the most notable players in their final year of contract (walk year) are Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, Charlie Morton, Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, and Gary Sánchez. These players represent ample trade capital for Baltimore to retool their roster quickly without sacrificing long-term pieces like Bautista.
In short, the Orioles appear to be in a unique position: they can afford to deal short-term assets for future value while keeping their long-term core intact. Given this strategy, parting ways with Bautista — a potential future All-Star reliever under team control and still working his way back to full strength — doesn’t align with their goals.
For the Phillies, this development suggests they must broaden their search for bullpen help. While Bautista might have seemed like the perfect fit, Baltimore’s priorities and timeline for contention mean he likely won’t be moved. With the trade deadline approaching, Philadelphia’s front office has little time to waste in exploring alternative solutions.
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