Orioles Unlikely to Trade Trevor Rogers or Félix Bautista Despite Down Year

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly unlikely to trade pitchers Trevor Rogers and Félix Bautista ahead of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline.

Both Rogers and Bautista have been bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Orioles. Rogers, in particular, is enjoying a career-best campaign. In 35 innings this year, the left-hander owns a 2-1 record and an impressive 1.53 ERA, dominating in nearly every start. This level of success rivals his 2021 All-Star season and has been a major turnaround after several inconsistent years. From 2022 to 2024, Rogers posted a combined 4.65 ERA across 283 innings, raising concerns about his long-term consistency. Given that context, many around the league expected the Orioles to sell high and maximize his trade value while he's performing at his peak.

Meanwhile, Bautista has made a strong return to Baltimore’s bullpen after missing the last two seasons due to elbow surgeries. In 33 innings this year, he’s posted a 2.41 ERA, looking every bit like the elite closer he was in 2023. His ability to immediately re-establish himself as one of the best relievers in baseball has been a significant boost to an otherwise struggling bullpen.

Despite their performances, the Orioles, currently sitting in last place in the AL East at 43-52 and 11.5 games out of first, appear poised to hold onto both arms. The decision comes as a surprise, especially given the significant return they could command, particularly for Rogers, whose current form and team control make him a valuable asset for contenders.

Baltimore’s reluctance to deal either pitcher is especially puzzling given the state of their farm system, which ranks 29th according to Bleacher Report. While the Orioles may not be in a full rebuild, trading from their pitching strength could have brought in MLB-ready prospects under team control — the kind of pieces that help retool quickly without a lengthy developmental wait.

After making the playoffs last year, expectations were high entering 2025. However, the lack of major offseason additions has left the club floundering. Unless something drastic changes, this season is shaping up to be a disappointing follow-up, and standing pat at the deadline may only prolong their struggles.