Latest Orioles rumor has Padres fans split ahead of 2025 trade deadline

Post-All-Star break, what do the San Diego Padres need to do in order to beef up their roster, and be completely confident heading into the 2025 postseason?

The three biggest concerns for the Friars right now are at: catcher, left field, starting rotation.

Most Padres fans can agree on that, but one of the most important (and under-the-radar) pieces to a successful MLB team is the bullpen. While San Diego has a superior set of relievers, led by three All-Stars in Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Robert Suarez, could it hurt to vie for one more lockdown bullpen arm?

If the Padres are interested in making their bullpen bulletproof, one of the first teams they can turn to is the Baltimore Orioles, who might be shopping right-hander Felix Bautista. If they are set on adding a starter, the O's are also looking to part ways potentially with southpaw Trevor Rogers.

Padres' 2025 trade deadline efforts could potentially be with Orioles' Felix Bautista, Trevor Rogers

Bautista is as dominant as they come. Can you imagine having another stopper in the Padres bullpen if/when San Diego's starter struggles in the postseason? His lethal sinker-splitter combo is one of the best in baseball. Now, sprinkle hin somewhere in the mix with Suarez-Adam-Morejon at the end of games, and the Padres will rarely have to worry about blowing a lead.

Bautista has 18 saves this season, but he could easily slot into a setup role, or something similar. Do Padres fans really want this? Some will love having an unstoppable bullpen, while other fans would prefer the franchise focuses on other areas of need. But remember, you can never have enough pitching. And if they want Bautista, they will have to offer up a strong package in return for the O's. It could be worth it.

If the Padres wanted another starter, they could look into making a deal for Rogers, who has found his way back to relevance in 2025 thanks to a heavier dosage of fastballs and missing more barrels. A trade for him wouldn't burn as much of a hole in the Padres' pockets, either.

In six starts this year, Rogers has logged four quality starts, and has allowed just six earned runs in 35 1/3 innings. Those numbers will definitely play, and a huge worry for San Diego down the stretch will be pitching health (Looking at you, Yu Darvish, Matt Waldron, Michael King), so a Rogers addition could be a cheap and safe initial option.

Could the Padres make a deal that includes both Bautista and Rogers? Perhaps, but it seems more likely that they would only make a move for one of them. Either way, they both seem to be presentable options.