Overview
- Baltimore acquired 26-year-old righty Shane Baz from the Rays for prospects Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn and the 2026 No. 33 pick.
- Baz, under three years of team control, logged 31 starts with a 4.87 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings in 2025 after returning healthy from Tommy John surgery.
- Mike Elias said the team views Baz as a front-end starter with top-of-the-rotation potential and indicated further roster moves are likely.
- With their third-highest draft selection now No. 83, the Orioles face a reduced penalty to pursue QO-declining starters such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez or Zac Gallen.
- Baz is expected to slot behind Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers, reinforcing a rotation Baltimore continues to upgrade following earlier additions of Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and Ryan Helsley.