The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the busier teams so far this offseason across MLB. They've added talent in the bullpen with Andrew Kittredge, and also made a surprising trade for Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels.
But, there's still plenty of work that needs to be done on this Orioles roster, and the offseason is only just getting underway. Baltimore is likely to be active this winter, and they've already begun their moves.
As Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports, the Orioles have made a decision with Felix Bautista. The superstar closer is out for a while, but the Orioles are still signing him back on a one-year, $2.25 million deal.
Orioles sign Felix Bautista to one-year, $2.25 million deal
"Felix Bautista and the Orioles agreed to a $2.25 million contract, per source," Fiensand reports.
Bautista isn't expected to return to the Orioles bullpen until late 2026 at the earliest. There's a very real chance that he doesn't return until the 2027 season.
Even though he might not pitch in 2026, the Orioles' signing him to this one-year deal is a no-brainer. When he's healthy, he's one of the best closers in baseball.
Letting him walk for nothing, especially when he's under club control through the 2027 season, would be a waste of resources. Bautista might not return in 2026, but he should be back for 2027.
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Before his injury, in 35 games, Bautista had a 2.60 ERA with 19 saves and 50 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched. His 156 ERA+ was great, but it's the worst number of his career.
In 2022 and 2023, Bautista had a 178 and 277 ERA+, respectively. When he was an All-Star in 2023, he had a 1.48 RA in 56 games with 33 saves and 110 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched.
Bautista and the Orioles have agreed to this $2.25 million contract for the 2026 season. While it remains to be seen if he'll pitch for the Orioles in 2026, at the very least, he's signed for another year.
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