The Orioles addressed their need for starting pitching by striking a deal within the American League East, acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a significant package of young talent and a future draft pick.
Baltimore announced Friday that it has landed the 26-year-old Baz, sending four prospects and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick to Tampa Bay. In return, the Rays receive outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn and the draft selection. De Brun entered the season ranked as the Orioles’ No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, while Bodine and Forret were ranked 10th and 11th, respectively.
The size of the return underscores how highly the Orioles value Baz and how strongly they believe he can stabilize and upgrade a rotation that has been searching for consistency. Baz, originally selected in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Pirates, has long been viewed as a high-upside arm, though his early career has been slowed by injuries.
From 2021 through 2024, Baz made just 23 major league starts for Tampa Bay. His development was interrupted most notably by Tommy John surgery in September 2022, which sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. He returned in 2024 and, despite some inconsistency, showed signs of durability by setting career highs across the board.
This past season, Baz made 31 starts, logged 166 1/3 innings and struck out 176 batters. While his 4.87 ERA reflected some growing pains, the workload and strikeout totals suggested progress after a long recovery. Baz remains under team control through the end of the 2028 season, giving Baltimore multiple years to benefit if he continues trending upward.
With Baz now in the mix, the Orioles’ projected rotation includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, with additional depth options such as Cade Povich, Albert Suárez and Brandon Young available behind them.
The move may not be Baltimore’s final addition to the rotation. The club has been linked to several high-end free agents, including left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez, and could still look to add another frontline starter as it aims to elevate its pitching staff for the seasons ahead.