Orioles’ Félix Bautista Expected to be ‘Full-Go’ in Spring Training
Addressing the bullpen will be near the top of the Baltimore Orioles’ off-season checklist this winter. However, the organization can rest easy knowing right-hander Félix Bautista will be ready to return to the closer’s role in 2025.
Bautista, who missed the entire ‘24 campaign due to Tommy John surgery, is expected to hit the ground running without any limitations once spring training begins next year, as MASN’s Roch Kubatko reported Sunday.
The 29-year-old hurler threw his first post-surgery bullpen session in August and, as Kubatko noted, he was slated to face live hitters earlier this month. That’s a massive development, considering he underwent surgery 12 months ago.
It’s also positive news for an Orioles pitching staff that saw its bullpen ERA fall from 3.55 (fifth-best in the majors) to 4.22 (23rd-best) this past season. Much of that decline, of course, was caused by Craig Kimbrel’s season-long woes.
After signing a one-year, $13-million contract with Baltimore last off-season, the nine-time All-Star – and future Hall-of-Fame closer – struggled to a 5.33 ERA and 4.18 FIP across 57 relief appearances, blowing six of his 29 save opportunities. He also posted the second-highest walk rate (13.4%) of his career since 2016, excluding the shortened ‘20 season.
Desperate to find a solution, the Orioles stripped Kimbrel – released by the club last month – of his ninth-inning title a few weeks before the July 30th trade deadline, shifting to a closer-by-committee deployment with Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin and Cionel Pérez.
Reinserting Bautista into the fold will be a huge upgrade for Baltimore next season, especially if he can recapture his prior form as one of baseball’s top closers.
The 2023 All-Star dominated on the mound before undergoing Tommy John surgery, leading all qualified big-league relievers (min. 50 innings pitched) in strikeouts (110), FIP (1.88) and strikeout-to-walk rate difference (35.4%). He also finished tied with Tanner Scott – a free agent this winter – in fWAR (2.8).
With his explosive four-seamer, Bautista ranked amongst the hardest-throwing pitchers in the sport in ‘23, as his 99.5-mph average fastball velocity placed in the 99th percentile. That pitch also produced a +17 run value, tied for fifth in the majors among four-seamers.
Last October, Bautista agreed to a two-year, $2-million contract extension with the Orioles following his procedure, providing each side with short-term cost certainty amidst a lost season on the horizon. The deal also bought out his first arbitration year, leaving him with two remaining.
The towering 6-foot-5 reliever is on the books for a team-friendly $1 million in 2025, although he’ll likely command a significant raise next winter if he dominates once again next season. Furthermore, he can enter free agency following the ‘27 campaign.
Baltimore has most of its ‘24 bullpen already under contract or team control for next season, outside of Seranthony Domínguez and Danny Coulombe – both of whom own club options at $8 million ($500,000 buyout) and $4 million, respectively.
Still, that should allow general manager Mike Elias to focus primarily on the franchise’s top free agents, ace Corbin Burnes and designated hitter Anthony Santander.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Keith Allison. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.