After many assertions that they hoped to avoid the trade deadline market this season, a litany of injuries to pitchers has forced the Los Angeles Dodgers to change their plans. Unfortunately, the closer market just got smaller.
The Baltimore Orioles on July 24 placed closer Félix Bautista on the injured list with shoulder discomfort. Multiple sources, including MLB insider Mark Feinsand, consider Bautista one of the less likely closer trade candidates this deadline, but there was a possibility Baltimore could move him.
Bautista has two seasons of control remaining on his contract after 2025, and it would take quite a package to pry the big righty away from the Orioles.