The Philadelphia Phillies have faced significant challenges with their bullpen this season, suffering from the suspension of José Alvarado and the struggles of Jordan Romano, leading to a high bullpen ERA of 4.58, ranking them seventh worst in MLB. With these issues, there's been speculation around acquiring Félix Bautista from the Baltimore Orioles as a potential fix. Bautista, returning from Tommy John surgery, has shown promising improvement with a 3.32 ERA and only one earned run in his last seven appearances. However, recent reports suggest the Orioles may hold onto him for their rebuilding efforts, complicating the Phillies' search for relief help.

Despite the Phillies' keen interest, MLB insiders hint that the Orioles, eyeing a return to contention in 2026, are likely to keep Bautista and utilize him as a valuable asset given he is under club control for two more years. The Orioles have other trade chips, like Zach Eflin and Cedric Mullins, who might be more likely to be on the move. For now, the Phillies may need to explore alternative options to reinforce their struggling bullpen.