The starting pitching market is finally heating up, and the Baltimore Orioles just made a move that could shape how the rest of the offseason unfolds. In a significant trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the O’s acquired right-hander Shane Baz, sending five pieces back to Tampa Bay - headlined by outfield prospect Slater De Brun.
This deal doesn’t just impact Baltimore and Tampa - it also gives us a clearer picture of where the market stands for other young arms with upside, particularly MacKenzie Gore. Baz and Gore share a lot of similarities: both were once top-tier prospects, both have shown flashes of brilliance in the big leagues, and both are still trying to put it all together. But when you stack them side by side, Gore has been the more durable and consistent of the two so far.
Baz, 26, just completed his first full MLB season, logging 166.1 innings with a 4.87 ERA. That ERA might not jump off the page, but dig a little deeper and the upside is still very real.
Baz’s fastball averages 97 mph, and he struck out nearly a quarter of the batters he faced. When he’s locked in, he can look like a future No. 2 starter - and that’s exactly what the Orioles are banking on.
The fact that Baz still has an extra year of team control compared to Gore adds another layer of value. While Gore has thrown more innings and posted better results to this point, Baz’s added control and electric stuff keep the gap between the two relatively narrow. If the Baz trade is any indication, Gore’s market is about to get very interesting.
So what did the Rays get in return? It’s a five-player package that leans more on quantity than elite, top-tier talent - but there’s upside here.
Slater De Brun is the headliner. Drafted 37th overall, he signed an overslot deal worth $4 million.
De Brun brings top-of-the-order potential with his speed and on-base skills. He’s not a physical powerhouse, but there’s enough pop in his bat to keep pitchers honest.
Catcher Caden Bodine is another notable piece. He was taken 30th overall and is known for his elite contact skills and defensive polish behind the plate. His framing is already advanced, and while questions remain about his power and overall athleticism, he’s considered one of the safer prospects in the deal.
The Rays also added right-hander Michael Forret, who quietly dominated across High-A and Double-A last season. He posted a 1.58 ERA and struck out 91 batters in just 74 innings.
Forret throws a mid-90s fastball and boasts a deep pitch mix. If he keeps this up, he could emerge as a top-100 prospect before long.
Rounding out the package are outfielder Austin Overn and a competitive balance draft pick - another asset for a Rays front office that knows how to work the margins.
All told, this is a solid return for Tampa, even if it doesn’t include a consensus top-100 prospect right now. There’s potential here, and the Rays are clearly betting on their ability to develop these players into impact big leaguers.
As for the broader implications, this deal sets a clear baseline for any team looking to move a young, controllable starter - and that includes the Nationals with MacKenzie Gore. With the pitching market now in motion and a new GM working under President of Baseball Ops Paul Toboni, all signs point to Washington exploring a Gore trade in the near future.
Gore still has two years of team control and plenty of talent, but he’s not viewed as a frontline ace. If the Nationals can flip him for a package that helps them accelerate their rebuild, it could pay dividends as soon as 2027.
The Baz deal doesn’t just move one pitcher - it moves the market. And with the dominoes starting to fall, don’t be surprised if Gore is the next big name on the move.