Baltimore’s season hit another wall as Félix Bautista underwent rotator cuff and torn labrum repair in Los Angeles, likely ending his year and casting a shadow over next season’s closer plans. The absence destabilizes a faltering bullpen and elevates late-inning risk for fantasy managers in saves or holds contexts.
Hyde’s May departure as manager has opened a leadership vacancy, with Buck Showalter floated as a potential return. Showalter’s track record of turning around clubhouse culture could energize a young roster and stabilize bullpen usage, potentially reshaping save opportunities and relief appearances in 2025.
Interim skipper Tony Mansolino delivered the Bautista news, underscoring a broader pivot in Baltimore’s clubhouse. The Orioles’ talent base remains, but a leadership reset is sought to convert potential into consistent, high-leverage wins. For fantasy managers, the bullpen picture in Baltimore becomes a focal point as the team navigates leadership transitions and Bautista’s recovery.
Bottom line: leadership changes and Bautista’s absence reshape the late innings in Baltimore. If a new voice stabilizes the bullpen and the offense clicks, the club’s late-game upside could rebound, but the path there hinges on who steps into closing and how the bullpen is deployed going forward.
