Orioles Land Shane Baz in Multi-Prospect Deal with Rays
The Baltimore Orioles have made a bold move to bolster their rotation, acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a package of prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick, according to multiple reports.
Baz, 26, brings both promise and question marks. Once a top prospect and former first-round pick by the Pirates in 2017, Baz was part of the high-profile deal that sent him, Tyler Glasnow, and Austin Meadows to Tampa Bay in exchange for Chris Archer-a trade that’s aged poorly for Pittsburgh. Now, Baz is on the move again, this time to an Orioles team looking to take that next step in the American League.
Let’s unpack what this means for both sides.
What the Orioles Are Getting in Baz
There’s no denying Baz’s raw talent. His fastball-slider combo has long been viewed as frontline starter material, and when he’s on, he can dominate lineups.
But health has been the major hurdle. Baz missed the entire 2023 season and significant chunks of 2021, 2022, and 2024 due to injuries.
In 2025, he finally logged a full season, making 31 starts and throwing 166 innings. The results were mixed: a 4.87 ERA and 4.37 FIP, though his 3.85 expected ERA (xERA) suggests he may have been a bit unlucky.
Baz is under team control for three more years, with three years and 158 days of service time, giving the Orioles a window to help him rediscover his form and potentially anchor the rotation alongside their emerging young arms.
What the Rays Are Getting in Return
Tampa Bay, always playing the long game, gets a package headlined by right-hander Michael Forret, the only player in the deal who cracked the Orioles' top 10 prospect list according to Baseball America. Forret, a 14th-round pick in 2023, made real strides in 2025.
He started the year in high-A, dominated, and earned a late-season promotion to Double-A, where he made three starts. He’s not overpowering, but his pitchability and polish make him an intriguing arm to track.
The Rays also pick up a trio of recent draft picks who bring upside:
- Slater de Brun, just 18 years old, was the 37th overall pick in the 2025 draft and received a hefty $4 million signing bonus-well above slot. The Orioles clearly saw star potential, and now the Rays will look to develop him in their system.
- Caden Bodine, 22, was taken 30th overall in the same draft out of Coastal Carolina.
He brings a solid all-around game behind the plate, and while catchers take time to develop, the Rays have a track record of getting the most out of young backstops.
- Austin Overn, also 22, was a third-round pick in 2024 out of USC. He split time between high-A and Double-A in 2025, slashing .249/.355/.399 while showing defensive versatility across all three outfield spots.
And of course, there’s the Competitive Balance Round A draft pick, which will give the Rays another early selection in the 2026 draft. For a club that thrives on maximizing value through the draft and development, that’s no small piece.
The Bigger Picture
For the Orioles, this is a calculated gamble. They’re giving up four young players-none of whom are considered elite prospects at this point-for a pitcher who, if healthy, could be a difference-maker in a postseason rotation. Baz has the tools, and Baltimore is betting on their development staff to help him stay on the field and reach his ceiling.
For the Rays, this is classic Tampa Bay. They move a talented but injury-prone pitcher with limited team control and turn him into a bundle of young, controllable talent, plus a valuable draft pick. It’s a move that may not pay off immediately, but it fits the long-term blueprint.
If Baz can stay healthy and return to form, the Orioles may have just added a legitimate rotation piece for their playoff push. If not, the Rays may once again prove why they’re so good at playing the long game. Either way, this trade adds another layer of intrigue to the AL East arms race.