The Orioles have been circling the starting pitching market for weeks, and on Friday, they made a move that caught just about everyone off guard. Baltimore landed right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that sent four of the Orioles’ top 30 prospects the other way. Baz wasn’t one of the names being floated in trade rumors, but now he’s headed to Camden Yards - and he brings both upside and intrigue.
Who Is Shane Baz?
If the name rings a bell, it should. Baz was a first-round pick - 12th overall - by the Pirates in 2017 and was part of the 2018 blockbuster that sent Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows to Tampa Bay in exchange for Chris Archer. Baz was the “player to be named later” in that deal, but he’s been on the radar ever since.
In four seasons with the Rays, Baz posted a 17-17 record with a 4.25 ERA across 54 starts. He missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and in 2025, his first full season back, he went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA over 31 starts. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but there’s more to the story.
Baz was a different pitcher away from Tampa Bay’s temporary home. The Rays played the 2025 season at George M.
Steinbrenner Field in Tampa due to hurricane damage at Tropicana Field, and Baz clearly didn’t love the setup. His road ERA was a solid 3.86 in 15 starts, compared to a 5.90 mark in 16 home outings.
Why the Orioles Made This Move
Baltimore had a hole to fill in the rotation after trading Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels last month in a deal for outfielder Taylor Ward. They needed another starter - ideally one with upside, familiarity with the AL East, and multiple years of team control. Baz checks all those boxes.
He’s under club control for three more seasons before hitting free agency, and he’s had some real success against division rivals. Baz has been particularly tough on the Red Sox (3-1, 2.64 ERA in five starts) and Blue Jays (4-0, 2.23 ERA in six starts). The Yankees have given him trouble (0-1, 6.75 ERA in six starts), but he’s been dominant against the Orioles themselves - a microscopic 0.56 ERA over three starts, allowing just one earned run on four hits in 16 innings.
Now, he joins a Baltimore rotation that includes Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers, and Tyler Wells. Baz could easily slot into the third spot behind Bradish and Rogers, giving the Orioles a right-left-right punch that’s both young and battle-tested.
What the Orioles Gave Up
To get Baz, Baltimore had to part with some serious prospect capital. The headliners are catcher Craig Bodine (the 30th overall pick in July) and high school outfielder Slater de Brun (37th overall, a pick the Orioles originally got from Tampa in the Bryan Baker trade). They also sent right-hander Michael Forret, who posted a 1.58 ERA across High-A and Double-A this year, plus outfielder Austin Overn and their Competitive Balance Round A pick - the 33rd overall selection in next year’s draft.
That’s a significant haul, especially for a pitcher coming off Tommy John and a sub-5.00 ERA season. But the Orioles clearly believe in Baz’s upside - and his fit in a rotation that needs depth and durability.
Baz by the Numbers
Baz’s 31 starts in 2025 would’ve led the Orioles, and his 176 strikeouts would’ve topped the staff. His 166 1/3 innings pitched would’ve been second only to Kremer’s 171 2/3. That kind of workload matters, especially for a team with postseason aspirations.
He started the season strong, logging four quality starts in his first five outings. Then came a rough stretch - eight straight starts without one - including a brutal August 18 start against the Yankees, where he gave up five home runs in just three innings. But he bounced back to finish the season strong, not allowing a single homer in his final six starts.
His last outing? Four hitless innings against the Orioles at Camden Yards on September 24. That’s a pretty good audition for your future employer.
What’s Next for the O’s?
The Baz deal doesn’t break the bank, and it doesn’t preclude the Orioles from making another splash. If Mike Elias wants to chase a top-tier arm, the financial flexibility is there to do it.
Michael King, one of the top names on the market, is off the board after signing a three-year, $75 million deal with the Padres. But there are still quality options available.
Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez have both been linked to Baltimore, and Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai is also in play. The clock’s ticking on Imai - MLB teams have until January 2 to sign him before he returns to Japan.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are also exploring bullpen help. They’ve shown interest in Cardinals lefty JoJo Romero, according to reports.
That would make sense, given the current lack of left-handed depth in the pen. Right now, the only southpaws on the 40-man roster are Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, and Grant Wolfram.
Josh Walker, another lefty, was designated for assignment to make room for Baz.
Coaching Staff Set for 2026
The Orioles also finalized their coaching staff for the 2026 season. Craig Albernaz’s staff includes 11 coaches, four of whom are holdovers: third base coach Buck Britton, pitching coach Drew French, pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek, and assistant pitching coach Mitch Plassmeyer.
The new additions are bench coach Donnie Ecker, hitting coach Dustin Lind, first base coach Jason Bourgeois, infield coach Miguel Cairo, bullpen coach Hank Conger, assistant hitting coach Brady North, and field coordinator/catching coach Joe Singley.
Final Thoughts
The Orioles didn’t just add a pitcher - they added a controllable, high-upside arm who’s already proven he can handle the AL East. Shane Baz may not have been the name fans expected, but he could end up being exactly what this rotation needs. And if the front office isn’t done yet, Baltimore’s pitching staff might be in for an even bigger boost before Opening Day.