Felix

Bautista

This was a procedural move as each player had to be activated from the injured list today and placed on the 40-man roster. Bautista, Mateo, and Wells should be full-go for the start of the season with Bautista again being the closer for the Orioles, which could make him a great value in fantasy leagues.

It marked the first time the hard-throwing All-Star closer has thrown off a mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. The 29-year-old isn’t expected to make it back to Baltimore this season, but he’s expected to be a full-go by spring training. Barring any unexpected setbacks, he’s should return to elite fantasy closer status by the time next spring rolls around.

The Orioles have already ruled out the 29-year-old right-hander for this season, but he should have a full and relatively normal offseason and will enter spring training next year at full strength. The Orioles could always go out and add another late-inning arm to the mix, but it sounds like Bautista should be considered their closer heading into the 2025 season.

Bautista isn’t expected to return until the 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October, and a follow-up procedure in early February, but he’s already kicked off a throwing program. The hard-throwing 28-year-old stopper should be ready to go in the early stages of next season.

Bautista is expected to be sidelined until 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. The 2023 AL Reliever of the Year underwent additional elbow surgery last week, but the team does not expect it to impact his return timetable. Baltimore signed veteran stopper Craig Kimbrel this offseason to take over as the team’s closer with Bautista unavailable.

The Orioles say it won’t affect his timetable. It does rule out the slight chance that he could return from Oct. 2023 Tommy John surgery at the end of this season, but that seemed to be more his hope than the team’s. Given the additional problems, perhaps it’s somewhat less likely he’ll return in 2025 as the same dominant pitcher he was last year, at least early on. The Orioles are turning to Craig Kimbrel as their closer this year with Bautista on the shelf.

Bautista told reporters Tuesday that his elbow feels good and he’s begun the lengthy rehabilitation process from last year’s Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old righty is planning to be ready for Opening Day of the 2025 campaign, but isn’t ruling out the possibility of pitching in the late stages of the upcoming season, if possible. He’s unlikely to make an impact for fantasy managers, as it’s be veteran Craig Kimbrel handling the closing duties for the Orioles this year, but it’s at least worth monitoring his progress to see if he’s ready to return in August or September. You never know.

The deal, which also includes a $1 million buyout, is now official after Kimbrel passed his physical. The 35-year-old veteran stopper appears poised to take over as Baltimore’s primary closer next season with elite stopper Félix Bautista sidelined while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He struggled mightily in the postseason, but was rock-solid during the 2023 regular season for the Phillies, finishing with 23 saves to accompany a 3.26 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 94/28 K/BB ratio across 69 innings (71 appearances). He’ll likely be a top-20 closer in fantasy drafts next spring.

Bautista takes home the top honor in the America League, despite missing the final five weeks of the 2023 campaign due to a partially-torn UCL in his right elbow, after posting a sublime 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110/26 K/BB ratio across 61 innings (56 appearances). The hard-throwing 28-year-old right-hander will likely remain sidelined until the outset of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last month.

Hyde made the comments when asked about whether Hall could get a chance out of the closer role with Félix Bautista (elbow) sidelined following Tommy John surgery. Hall impressed down the stretch with a 3.26 ERA and 23/5 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings before striking out six over 3 1/3 scoreless frames in the postseason. Yennier Canó is still around and must be watched closely going into the spring, but it’s clear the Orioles have big plans for Hall.