Orioles GM Mike Elias introduced this afternoon that right-handed nearer Felix Bautista is about to bear Tommy John surgical procedure in early October. Elias additionally introduced that the membership and Bautista had agreed upon a assured, two-year contract that runs via the 2025 marketing campaign. Bautista gained’t pitch throughout the 2024 marketing campaign, and is anticipated again in time for Spring Coaching 2025.
Bautista, 28, made his huge league debut in 2022 as a member of the Baltimore bullpen and nearly instantly turned one of many membership’s most vital arms, with a 2.19 ERA and a pair of.91 FIP in 65 2/3 innings for the membership final 12 months because the Orioles surged to a stunning 83-79 season. The correct-hander took one other leap ahead in his sophomore season to grow to be some of the dominant relievers in baseball throughout the 2023 marketing campaign. In 61 innings of labor this season, Bautista posted an unbelievable 46.4% strikeout charge that lead all relievers whereas additionally main the pack in FIP (1.88), xFIP (2.30), and SIERA (2.06). Bautista’s sterling 1.48 ERA trailed solely 4 relievers within the majors, and the right-hander figured to be a key a part of the Orioles’ first postseason push since 2016.
Sadly, these plans went awry in late August when the membership introduced that Bautista was headed to the injured record with “a point” of UCL damage. Even on the time, that analysis was ominous, on condition that UCL injury typically requires Tommy John surgical procedure. That mentioned, the Orioles left the door open for the 2023 All Star to return to assist the membership’s playoff push, and the righty started to rehab in hopes of working his means again from the damage. Elias famous on the time that whereas docs had indicated Bautista would have the ability to pitch with out inflicting any additional injury to his UCL, a process to handle the difficulty could be needed in some unspecified time in the future.
The plan appeared to be going nicely, at first, as Bautista labored as much as 25-pitch aspect periods pretty rapidly. Finally, as relayed by Jake Rill for MLB.com, the right-hander ran out of time to return throughout the common season, with simply two video games left to play on Baltimore’s schedule. That left the Orioles to determine to close him down for the 12 months, preferring to not activate him throughout the postseason push with out having made lower-leverage appearances first. With Bautista not taking part within the postseason, there was little purpose to delay the right-hander’s surgical procedure additional.
With Bautista not anticipated to throw a aggressive pitch till Spring Coaching of the 2025, the perimeters got here collectively on a assured deal that may run via the tip of the 2025 season, Bautista’s first 12 months of arbitration eligibility. Whereas the phrases of Bautista’s take care of the Orioles haven’t been disclosed, Elias expressed in feedback to reporters (together with MASN’s Roch Kubatko) that the deal was a shiny spot that ought to assist Bautista concentrate on the rehab forward of him.
“I feel that’s nice, as a result of he can simply think about his rehab and getting again on the sphere. He gained’t have any enterprise to take care of in that point,” Elias mentioned. “We did one thing related with John Means, and really blissful for Félix and for us that that’s out of the way in which.”
With Bautista formally achieved for 2023 (and 2024), the Orioles determine to show to right-handed setup man and fellow All Star Yennier Cano as their main nearer in his absence. Cano has recorded 4 saves in Bautista’s absence, although he’s struggled to an uncharacteristic 4.76 ERA in 11 1/3 innings of labor throughout that point. Cano’s full-season numbers are far more spectacular, because the 29-year-old righty sports activities a 2.12 ERA and a pair of.87 FIP in 72 1/3 innings of labor with the Orioles this season.
