The Orioles didn’t make the biggest splash of the offseason when they traded for Shane Baz - but don’t let that fool you. This might end up being their most important move of the winter.
Baltimore came into the offseason with a clear need: starting pitching. They didn’t chase a headline-grabbing ace or overpay in free agency.
Instead, they zeroed in on a high-upside arm with pedigree and control - and landed Baz, a former first-round pick with three years of team control remaining. That’s the kind of move that signals both short-term ambition and long-term planning.
Baz is projected to earn $3.1 million next season, which is a bargain for a pitcher with his ceiling. That also leaves GM Mike Elias and his front office with financial flexibility to keep adding. And based on Elias’ comments this weekend, the Orioles aren’t done yet.
“I think our rotation is a lot better than it was before we made the trade,” Elias told reporters. “But I view it as a move in this offseason.”
That’s the key phrase: a move. Not the move.
Elias emphasized that the team is still in the market, still exploring opportunities, and still ready to strike if the right deal comes along. With about a month and a half before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, there’s time - and clearly, there’s intent.
Slotting Baz in as the club’s No. 3 starter speaks volumes about how the Orioles view him. They’re not easing him in.
They see him as a critical piece of a rotation that already includes Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers. Baz brings electric stuff and, if healthy, has the potential to outperform that No. 3 label.
But Baltimore may not be finished reshaping its rotation. Even with Michael King re-signing with the Padres, the market still features intriguing names. Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen are all still available.
Now, it’s unlikely the Orioles go after another cost-controlled arm via trade. The price they paid to get Baz was significant, and going after someone like Edward Cabrera would likely gut the farm system - something this front office has been careful to avoid.
As for Imai, it’s probably a long shot. If he’s commanding top-of-the-rotation money on the open market - and if teams see him as that caliber of pitcher - it doesn’t make much sense for Baltimore to outbid the field, especially with Baz, Bradish, and Rogers already in place.
But keep your eye on Valdez and Suarez.
Elias has familiarity with Valdez from their shared time in the Astros organization. That kind of connection can matter - not just in terms of scouting insight, but in building trust during negotiations. Valdez has shown the ability to pitch like a frontline starter, and he brings playoff experience to the table.
Suarez, meanwhile, might be one of the more underrated arms still out there. He’s flashed top-of-the-rotation stuff at times with the Phillies, but may not command a contract that pays him like a true ace. That could make him a smart value play - and the kind of deal the Orioles have been targeting under Elias.
What’s clear is this: the Orioles are in a strong position. They’ve already improved their rotation, and they’ve done it without sacrificing future flexibility or payroll space. Baz brings legitimate upside, and with a few more calculated moves, Baltimore could roll into 2026 with one of the more complete starting staffs in the American League.
This isn’t the Orioles of old. This is a team with a plan - and they’re executing it.