The Orioles have been at least listening to offers on both left-hander Trevor Rogers and closer Felix Bautista, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. A trade of either player is considered unlikely, though. Both are controlled beyond the 2025 season. Rogers is arbitration-eligible through 2026. Bautista is arb-eligible through 2027. SNY’s Andy Martino reported last week that rival clubs who’ve talked to the Orioles don’t expect Bautista to be moved.
That Rogers would even have appeal as anything more than a pure sell-low candidate is a welcome development for the Orioles. The former Rookie of the Year runner-up pitched poorly enough following last year’s acquisition from Miami that he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Rogers then suffered a subluxation of his knee in January and opened the season with a six-week stay on the injured list. He was optioned again once ready for reinstatement and posted a 5.51 ERA in 32 2/3 minor league frames.
Rogers was still recalled out of necessity on May 24, and he’s been an unexpected boon to a struggling Baltimore rotation. The 27-year-old southpaw has made six starts since that recall and turned in a pristine 1.53 earned run average. His 93.5 mph average fastball isn’t quite back up to the 94.6 mph peak he enjoyed before a series of back, lat and biceps injuries, but it’s up considerably from last season’s 91.6 mph average.
There are reasons to be quite skeptical of Rogers’ success, however. He’s sitting on a .200 average on balls in play despite yielding an ugly 50.5% hard-hit rate in the majors this year. Only one of the 33 fly-balls he’s allowed has become a home run (3%) — far lower than his 10.2% career mark and 2025’s 11.4% league average. Similarly, his 84% strand rate trounces the 72.7% league average and Rogers’ own career mark of 71%. There’s some very likely regression in store in all those areas, though a 3.71 SIERA suggests that Rogers has still been a genuinely improved pitcher this season.
On the one hand, the Orioles need long-term help in the rotation. Charlie Morton, Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano are free agents at season’s end. Grayson Rodriguez hasn’t pitched this season due to triceps and elbow troubles. Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are both on the mend from UCL surgery. They’re expected back later this summer, but it’s hardly a given that they’ll recapture their pre-injury form. Former top prospects Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott have both struggled in 2025 — the former in the majors and the latter in Triple-A. Povich is currently on the shelf due to a hip injury.
On the other hand, Rogers is only controlled one more season and clearly saw his stock plummet in his first six months with the club. If he’s rebuilt some trade value, there’s an argument to be made for capitalizing on it and bringing back some more controllable talent. Even six weeks ago, the idea of Rogers having trade value of note would’ve seemed far-fetched. He’s certainly not as good as his sub-2.00 ERA would suggest, but on a thin market for pitching, his restored velocity and improved results could hold interest — particularly given that extra season of control and a very affordable $2.6MM salary.
Turning to Bautista, a trade of the former All-Star closer seems far less likely. The asking price, certainly, would be considerably higher. The electric 30-year-old righty is earning just $1MM this season and has two arbitration years remaining. He’s returned from late-2023 Tommy John surgery to pitch 33 2/3 innings of 2.41 ERA ball and collect 18 saves. Bautista’s 35.6% strikeout rate isn’t close to the superhuman 46.4% mark he recorded in 2023 but is excellent nevertheless. His 14.8% walk rate is also fairly alarming.
That said, both Bautista’s strikeout and walk rates are trending in the right direction. Dating back to the beginning of June, he’s fanned 44.4% of his opponents against an 11.1% walk rate — near-mirror images of his 2023 levels. Bautista is now favoring a new 97.5 mph sinker over the 99.3 mph four-seamer he used as his primary offering in ’23. The velocity isn’t as strong, but he’s seen his grounder rate climb from 35.7% to a hearty 50.7%.
Bautista is an elite relief arm with several metrics trending in the right direction and multiple years of affordable club control. That’s the sort of asset that every contending club would want. His affordable salary both makes him more plausible for budget-conscious contenders and carries extra appeal for the top luxury-paying clubs that don’t want to pay a 110% tax on a pricey reliever’s average annual salary.
The general consensus around the Orioles is that they’re unlikely to move anyone who’s controlled beyond the current season. The O’s have played better baseball since a dreadful start to the season but look to have dug too deep a hole to climb back into contention in the next two weeks. They’re nine games under .500 — 11.5 back from the division lead and 7.5 back of a Wild Card spot (with seven teams to leapfrog). They open the second half with a a seven-game road trip (three in Tampa and four in Cleveland) and have played at a 21-27 clip on the road (.437) versus a 22-25 clip at home (.468).
It’s far likelier that veterans like Morton, Eflin, Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto — all free agents at season’s end — change hands. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Rogers suddenly felt a bit like found money and GM Mike Elias looked to capitalize. A trade of Bautista would come as a shock, but it’s at least of some modest note that the Baltimore front office is willing to hear out interested clubs and give them a chance to put forth an overwhelming offer.
Yeah obviously Orioles won’t do any trades with the Yankees, and nor should they.
The absolutely should. It’s not like the Orioles will be able to compete with them anytime soon anyway.
You’re delusional. The O’s just took the East in 2023 with less talent than what they have today. Pitching injuries have taken them from contention this year. I’m willing to bet they take the East once again if they stay healthy..
What are they doing this year? Oh yeah tanking.
Explain how it’s tanking when 4/5 ths of your Starting rotation is injuried and out for the majority of the year. Dumb comment and you made it worse by replying.
The more appropriate criticism may be that they failed to add to their pitching depth in the offseason. Sugano and Morton were never going to be enough.
The Yankees are missing 3/5 of their rotation as well. Injuries happen. The Os offense has also been bad. Adley is not the guy we thought he was, Holliday is just an average hitter, and Gunnar looks to be closer to 25% better than league average vs 50%
Are you seriously blaming injuries to the pitching staff when the Yankees lost Cole, Gil, Schmidt and Yarborough?
Not only is this a delusional take about Baltimore not being able to compete but he then doubled down and said that they are tanking this year. This is so far beyond ignorant that it’s comical.
Clearly he hasn’t been watching the last two/three years or doesn’t know what he’s watching. A team who won the Al east and had a better record than the Yankees over the past two seasons somehow doesn’t compete with the Yankees. Okay bud, sure.
Lots of what ifs but right now this year’s Yankees is not so far ahead of the Orioles as it appears. Injuries played a large part in the hole that Baltimore dug for themselves and injuries are also impacting the Yankees. The Yankees are in a downward trend and the Orioles are in an upward trend. Currently they only sit something like 7 games ahead of the Orioles and while the next couple weeks could drastically change the roster of both clubs, Baltimore is due to have multiple impact players returning from injury, which could provide a boost akin to a deadline acquisition.
I am not making the claim that the Orioles have been the better team, it’s obvious that they haven’t. The season is nowhere near over yet and the teams could potentially find themselves much closer than people think.
Right now, the Yankees have multiple teams right on them vying for the wild card spots. A few weeks ago, the Yankees were the clear favorite for division winners and the Orioles weren’t playing much better than the worst team in the league. In just that short time, things have changed dramatically, point being the season still has a long way to go. Both teams could find themselves sitting at home in October, only time will tell.
At the end of the season is what it means. It doesn’t matter if a handful of wins separates them if they both don’t make the postseason.
The gist is that while there is a better team thus far into the season, it doesn’t tell the full story until the season is finished – at that point you can determine who the better team is and by how much.
what is the Yankees head to head record against this horrible team??? Look before commenting… Yanks aren’t that good which is why they are free falling…
That’s right 3 wins and 3 losses. Yanks couldn’t beat them when they had 14 starting players on the il… how are they gonna do it when os are healthy???
Many position players on IL or missed much of spring training…
Except it’s not….there are only two position players on the O’s roster who,ve not been injuried at some point this year..4 starting pitchers…Bradish..Eflin..Grayson Rodriguez..Tyler Wells…Bullpen arms Akin..Suarez…and they just got back Tommy John Felix Bautista….I’d say say it is both..
You probably said the same thing two seasons ago. How’d that work out?
Depends on the deal and the player being moved. For example they have rental relievers and the yanks need em. That kind of deal doesn’t really play into typical reasons selling teams are reluctant to trade in division.
Huge mistake to trade either one!
I agree ! What could they ever get in return to trade off mlb talent they’ll need for the future
I think it really depends on the return. Obviously there would be no reason to trade them for more prospects because the Orioles *should* be past that point. If you could somehow turn them into multiple starting options for next year though, I think you have to explore it. Bautista doesn’t help you if you rarely have leads. As for Rogers, regression is probable.
Trading Rogers is interesting…if he returns a top pitching prospect with 5+ years of control (Andrew Painter?), it might have to be done.
Having watched his outings though, batters have been taking bad swings at his stuff, so there’s something batters can’t read on him (delivery/pitch shapes?).
Mike needs to make some sharp moves, and this year might be as bananas as last year deadline for the Orioles. (Like 8 different trades at ’24 deadline)
There’s no way the Phillies are considering moving Painter for Rogers. That’s a pipe dream.
myaccount2 — I didn’t mean to imply a straight swap, Rogers in a package. Lots of other players on the Orioles that would make senyin a trade with Philli. Rather, making a point that the trade deadline could see the next E-Rod or Cole Regan’s get moved and the Orioles have the asset’s to make such a deal.
Trades also go the other way in terms of volume. If it’s a 3 for 1, O’s will be getting 3 players in return. Not give up 3 for painter
I would trade him thou if I was Phili, he’s way over rated at this point and if anyone considers him a 25 prospect in terms of trade value; great sell high candidate !
Not to mention the Yankees always try to lofoad trash and get something for nothing. Why would any team want to do a deal with them?
While i dont like trading felix, hed at least bring back a couple significant pieces. If one were a contollable young pitcher with upside, i would be tempted to agree to a trade. We all know that the orioles cant develop pitching, so we will have to trade for them. Felix might be the only guy available who would return that type of pitcher.
It’s not worth having a closer if you can’t get him into the game. He should be able to land a nice piece if they decide to trade him.
They are getting him into the game. The Os were terrible to start the season but have improved to a .500 team or so in no small part because of Rogers, Morton and Bautista.
Agree, except orioles are in the belief that they will contend next year. Therefore they will probably keep him in anticipation for next year. I think they should trade if he brings thema high upside younger pitcher who can slot into the rotation.
If Bradish and Rodriguez come back to the level they were at, Orioles definitely will be competing next season. This isn’t a rebuild in traditional sense, it’s injuries not the lack of talent holding them back. I say trade Rogers for pitching depth but keep Bautista because 44% K rates just don’t grow on trees. You can replace Rogers, I’m not sure you can replace a healthy Bautista.
To be honest, not sure you can trade Rogers right now. Eflin and Sugano, sure. Rogers is stronger this year and his fast ball is back where it was when he was in the running for RoY.
It’s such a myth that bad teams don’t get many save chances for their closers. When they do lead late, it’s usually a small lead, which will result in save chances. Plus the Orioles haven’t been that bad of late, anyway. Kyle Finnegan has gotten plenty of saves for bad Nationals teams over the past few seasons.
Sell em all. Start the rebuild over.
*What* rebuild? They’re positioned to be contenders for many, many years…
Yeah sure they are. Just like the Padres….
Why would they rebuild? They still have a pretty young core, and what part of that are they going to sell off? Gunner Henderson and Adley Rutschman?
I wasn’t serious bonehead. They already traded away a reliever for draft picks. They had a terrible offseason a few months ago. They are screwing things up.
Why so defensive and rude over it? How am I supposed to know what is and isn’t sarcasm on an internet forum?
Did you honestly think I meant trade away Henderson and Ruschman???
King. Of. Terrible. Sarcasm. Too.
You said “sell em all” knucklehead…
Maybe the Os could get Stowers for Rogers what say you
No – the Marlins would laugh hysterically, just like they did last year (on mute) when they convinced Elias to give up Stowers and Norby for that noodle arm.
One of the dumbest trades Elias has ever made.
Didn’t think he would be an all star but he showed promise in a limited roll. He was young and needed regular abs to prove he could develop into a regular. The Os didnt have a place for him with Mullins, Santander, Hays, and cowser. Glad hes making a name for himself with the fish. But I 100% didnt see this coming.
Nah Stowers was always considered the higher ceiling player based on exit velocity and overall power. Norby is a finesse hitter.
Stowers had a good half year so far. Lets not make him into the second coming. He was never projected to hit like this, so lets see how he does for a whole year. He was only an allstar because the marlins had to send someone. Remember rogers looked like a stud for half a year before the league caught up.
Stowers has been a fine acquisition for the Marlins. Now if they would just put him in the lineup more. His playing time had been dwindling over the past few weeks. There’s no one on the Marlins roster who should be taking at bats away from him
Norby may have been the headliner, but that doesn’t mean nobody thought Stowers was anything worthwhile. He was ranked as a top ten prospect in the Orioles’ system by BA heading into both 2022 and 2023, when the likes of Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson were still prospects and were still among the best in minor league system rankings.
No one cares what you (or I) thought about Stowers, “skins”, the point is that GMs who hoard their prospects like a zombie apocalypse was coming (i.e Elias) should know better than to give up potential talent for a scrub arm that ended up in the minors last year.
All you Os fans need to get off your knees and realize that Elias didn’t have a clue what to do with his prospects.
The Rogers trade is the only Elias trade O’s fans really questioned.. Then it looked like a disaster, but now it’s looking more like an ok trade. My bigger beef (and many O’s fans) is Elias’ overall approach to pitching — always an arm or two short (or more) of what’s really needed. The way he let Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb walk and replaced them only with Kittredge. Signing and trading for a couple of older FA starters when the team needs younger ones.
Rogers has to go while he’s rebuilt some value – and the GM should have lost his job for trading for him. Send him to the Cubs for a couple deep dish pizzas…
Then they’ll have to trade for or sign someone just like him for next season since all they’ll have will be 4 starters who are currently out on the IL.
I wonder if Tyler O’Neill would be available in a trade. Either attached to a high acquisition cost player like Bautista or with a prospect to make O’Neill’s contract more palatable. I’m not an Orioles fan so not sure how much the team is looking for in payroll flexibility and/or if they’d be interested in cutting ties with O’Neill so quickly.
His trade value is pretty low at this point, unless he goes on a hot streak soon. The Sox were smart to acquire him before his 2024 contract drive.
I am a Jay’s fan and I don’t think the O’s should trade FB. Closers as good as him are very hard to find.
Definitely wise to listen to some offers for the two of them for sure. Rogers has been phenomenal this year in limited work so selling high right now is probably the best way to go. Much as I like Bautista you don’t really need a closer if you aren’t going to the last couple of innings with a lead. I think you gotta sell especially if you get a good return.
I don’t think trading Rogers now would be a ‘sell low’, quite the opposite actually. He’s been incredible the last 2 months. If anything it would have to be a ‘sell high’ situation for them to consider moving him this deadline.
Will Elias be annoyed when FO’s initially pitch insulting lowball offers for Bautista like he has the past couple years when be was seeking SPs as a buyer (Crochet, Cease, Luzardo….who even knows what delusion/guys he wouldn’t give up when asking about Skubal)?
Honestly.. WTH are the orioles going to get in return for either one? They traded two bigger prospects last year for Rogers who is kind of an average pitcher that’s just having a lucky streak (and other teams know that) teams won’t pay high, Orioles will get a couple of dice rolls in return that won’t amount to much. Baltimore isn’t good at making trades, if they were, they’d actually have pitching right now. Mark my words, if they trade these guys, the return will be… “who?”
Relievers always get a lot at the deadline, and Bautista has proven he’s one of the most effective ones when he is healthy. He is also controlled through 2028. Rogers definitley has much more to prove, but Bautista would likely be a pretty sought-after reliever at the deadline.
At the time of his injury in 2023, Felix Bautista was leading baseball in saves with 33 and carried an 8-2 record. He had pitched 61 innings and struck out 110 batters. He allowed just 30 hits in those 61 innings. He essentially missed the final two months of the season. If you read this post you’ll see his performance the last two months has been similar to the 2023 season. He doesn’t become a free agent til 2028.
WTH would the Orioles get in return? Plenty! Start with two top 100 prospects. One, a starting pitcher, who is ML ready!
If rentals like Carlos Estevez and Tanner Scott can net some good prospects, then Felix Bautista, who is under control through the 2027 season definitley will get a good haul back.
Yep! Philly fans, here in PA, are suggesting they move Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller for Bautista. Both are Top 100 prospects. Painter at 16 and Miller at 41 in Baseball America’s rankings. Philly fans want to win a World Series. As an O’s fan, I do also, so I keep Felix!
I would do that trade in a minute for Bautista – from an O’s perspective. Painter is a potential top of the rotation guy. I don’t think the Phils would do it. Abel maybe…
Yeah, that 44 percent K-rate since June began will definitely draw some good offers.
There is no way the Phillies trade Andrew Painter for a reliever, no matter how good he is.
Phillies have plenty of starting pitching, it’s there bullpen that is terribly thin. Dombrowski would do that trade knowing it could bring a World Series or two before their window closes.
Bautista has re emerged as elite CL
Doesnt become FA til after 2027
Are o’s throwing in the towel for the next 3 yrs?
Or is this just bored journalistic non sense?
Also hasnt baltimore been desperate for SP? So they’re gonna trade the only healthy decent arm they have?
I value Felix a lot and dont think he should be traded in general but you listen. I dont think the Os are in rebuild mode but they could use a retool as much as anybody. They should expect to be able to compete in 2026 with some positive moves in the offseason or even at this deadline. Shocking statement here, they need to improve starting pitching substantially. Not sure Elias will ever be capable of doing that.
Was not surprised but with 4 picks in the top 37 no pitchers. 2 catchers. After using the #1 overall pick on a C several years ago. Now I am not a present day Adley fan so if there is an angle here, we draft 2 catchers which means Adley can be traded for a quality SP or SPs okay I get it. FA defense game mgmt C until one of those guys develops or if Basallo will stay at C and we need just a backup fine. Trade Adley for pitching and call up Basallo. But what seems like a nice idea does not seem to happen in Baltimore. Pitching isnt important and just take bats and maybe we’ll outscore ’em. If we cant play ’em that’s fine. They can get sunflower seeds for the guys who do play.
So you listen. Felix is not a take what you can get guy. But RPs are so highly valued. It would he nice to keep those 70 innings. But if it may mean we get a nice 170 IP or 340 IP with young quality controllable healthy starters of which we have zero, yeah okay that could work. But not for a catcher. Or two more catchers. Or a catcher and a MI or a CF.
At some point need matters. So trade every expiring contract for sure and try to build up the pitching. Or if we do get bats at the deadline at some point trade the bats for arms. Maybe Elias collects a pool of talent for our expiring guys now and the new GM is tasked with figuring out the pitcher thing.
Bautista and Mullins to the Phillies for Abel and Crawford.
Crawford would be a nice trade return in a vaccum but it actually isn’t what the O’s really need. 1) Crawford is a lefty hitter while the O’s need to shift a bit more towards the right side with Henderson, Holliday and Cowser are all lefties along with team prospects Basallo, Beavers and Kjerstad. 2) Adding an OF to the system also overloads things. Next year’s O’s roster could be juggling Cowser, Beavers, Carlson, Laureano and O’Neill at the least. Every deal the O’s make for the remainder of 2025 should focus on pitching, pitching and more pitching. They have position players fairly well covered.
OK. Abel, Bohm, and either Aroon Escobar or Eduardo Tait for just Bautista. Kemp to third, Marsh to left, and Crawford in center.
The Orioles have zero need for Bohm, Escobar, and Tait, unless they were to include them in a deal for pitching.
That’s not enough for Felix alone!
O’s would get a haul for Bautista. Just waiting on a desperate contender….
I think the Pirates and Orioles should try to get something done, though they may need a third team to make the value match up. In particular, it seems like the O’s have lost interest in Coby Mayo. The Pirates have plenty of arms at near-ready status who could help the Orioles next year, while Mayo would finally have the runway to get a real chance.
While the teams might be able to match up on a trade like that, both team also have a bunch of vets on expiring contracts to offload. This is why I say a third team could help in terms of balancing value. Obviously, the O’s would probably like to punt on Mullins, but might not be able to make the return work with suitors who want might want him (Astros, Mariners, Padres, etc.) The Pirates might be able to sweeten the return by essentially taking part of the return and turning it into prospects that the O’s are interested in.
On paper, the teams are an ideal match. The O’s have a few bats who are blocked, the Pirates have plenty of controllable arms, many of whom are either in the MLB or almost there.
I would certainly listen on Bautista, but I would have to be absolutely blown away by an offer to actually pull the trigger on a deal. I doubt anyone offers enough at this deadline to cross the threshold for me (or for Mike Elias) to cross Felix’s name out of our 2026 & 2027 plans and ship him out of town.
If the Phillies called up and offered Andrew Painter though…
That’s my thought. Elias will trade him but it will cost a major league ready stud pitching prospect. Probably still would look for an additional stud prospect, and an additional underrated prospect arm
Right, Painter himself is not enough!
I think I’d have to do Painter for Bautista.
Man I love Bautista but the haul could be unprecedented. If a team wants to throw stupid to the wind in an attempt to win it all the Orioles should take advantage.
I’m with Floch, would have to be blown away by an offer for Bautista. I think that’s in the extremely doubtful range, and having a top tier closer for the next 2 seasons is fine.
More likely they get an offer for Rogers. While he’s been good lately, the return may be better in the long run. I lean toward they’re selling high versus wow he’s figured it out and he’s now an ace.
Bradish is the only one of the injury returnees who can be penciled in as a starter in 2026. Rodriguez has been injured numerous times and pretty much guaranteed to get hurt again as soon as they try to stretch him out. Wells’ PR in a season before multiple injuries was 110 IP. Both are likely relievers now if they ever are healthy again.
Anyone on an expiring deal, sure. Up for grabs. Then glue the phone to Elias’ head and do not detach until two top tier starters or better are signed this winter.
No harm in listening. Every few years some trade blows minds. Devers already happening this year might have covered it, but you never know until you get that call that team A is willing to trade a fortune plus a few lottery tickets, or give you a superstar if you’ll throw in a starter under control for a few years.
Orioles could end up having a good deadline if they can get someone to take rodgers
Interesting development with Rogers but definitely still in “prove it” mindset as it’s only been 6 weeks. Of greater note, had they not completely rolled over against the Marlins last weekend and taken 2/3 or even swept I’d have been in on the “go for it” this season with pitching reinforcements coming in August. I’d sell off the pending free agents now and potentially be a buyer at the same time in the form of a 1b that is established as well as another SP that’s controlled through at least next season.
They’re not going to sign anyone worth a F in the off-season so they better hold onto Rogers. Then again maybe they plan on baiting Gibson out of retirement 💀.
Oh wait they’re banking on Rodriguez, Wells and Bradish coming back off of injury, got it. No need to sign a 1,2 or 3. Just fill out the bottom of that rotation like always, they’re so smart.
Bautista to Philadelphia for Andrew Painter.
Yes,the Orioles have plenty of talent however they manage their pitching just like the Diamondbacks do which is saying they give a free Tommy John surgery to every pitcher they sign.
No free agent starter the orioles have signed has undergone TJ in a long time.
Rogers has a filthy sweeper going right now. I don’t think he’s going pitch like a cy young but I think he’s really fixed