The Baltimore Orioles have made some serious noise this offseason, and they’re not done yet. After locking in Pete Alonso to anchor the middle of the lineup, adding Ryan Helsley to strengthen the bullpen, and swinging a deal for Taylor Ward to bolster the outfield, the O’s have checked off a lot of boxes. But there’s still one glaring need left on the checklist: starting pitching.
That might be about to change.
According to reports, the Orioles are deep in talks to acquire Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays. And this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill winter rumor mill chatter-these discussions are reportedly serious. Baz, a former top prospect with electric stuff, would represent the kind of high-upside arm Baltimore’s rotation has been missing.
This comes on the heels of another big move involving the Rays, who are reportedly finalizing a three-team trade that would send Brandon Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s clear Tampa Bay is open for business, and the Orioles are looking to capitalize.
For Baltimore, adding Baz would be a bold, forward-looking move. He’s young, under team control, and has frontline potential when healthy.
The Orioles are clearly building toward something bigger-not just a playoff push, but a sustained run at the top of the AL. With the offense and bullpen already upgraded, a rotation piece like Baz could be the missing link.
We’ll have to wait and see if this deal gets across the finish line, but if it does, it signals that the Orioles aren’t just dipping their toes into contention-they’re diving in.