The Baltimore Orioles have landed a significant piece of pitching help, acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in a blockbuster American League East trade. The deal, first reported by MLB insiders, sends a package of four prospects and a Competitive Balance draft pick to the Rays in exchange for a controllable arm with a high ceiling and three more years of team control. (BaltimoreBaseball.com)
Full Trade Details
The Orioles received:
- RHP Shane Baz — a 26-year-old right-hander with upside and multiple years remaining under contract
The Rays received:
- OF Slater de Brun — Baltimore’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline
- Caden Bodine — Baltimore’s No. 10 prospect
- RHP Michael Forret — Orioles’ No. 11 pitching prospect
- OF Austin Overn — Orioles’ No. 30 prospect
- Competitive Balance Round A Draft Pick (33rd overall in 2026) (BaltimoreBaseball.com)
The Orioles surrendered multiple high-end prospects — including two recent first-round picks — to secure Baz, underscoring how aggressively Baltimore is pursuing starting-pitching upgrades this offseason. (ESPN.com)
Who Is Shane Baz?
Baz was originally a first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 before being traded to the Rays as part of the package in the Chris Archer–Tyler Glasnow deal.
In the 2025 season — the first full healthy campaign of his career — Baz made 31 starts, posted a 10-12 record with a 4.87 ERA, struck out 176 batters in 166⅓ innings and showed growth as a full-time rotation arm. (BaltimoreBaseball.com)
He has struggled with injuries earlier in his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2022, which caused him to miss the entire 2023 season, but when healthy he has elite stuff and a deep five-pitch mix including a fastball averaging near 97 mph. (SI)
Baz remains under club control through at least the 2028 season, making him an attractive long-term addition for Baltimore. (ESPN.com)
What This Means for the Orioles
Boston’s AL East rivals now bolster their rotation with one of the more intriguing arms in recent trade history. With Baz joining a rotation that already includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, and others, the Orioles add depth and potential top-end performance over the next few seasons. (ESPN.com)
Baltimore’s need for starting pitching was evident after a 2025 season in which its staff posted a league-high ERA among rotations that logged significant innings. This aggressive trade is part of a broader offseason push that has seen the club already sign star bats and bullpen help. (ESPN.com)
What the Rays Get
For Tampa Bay, the haul of prospects and the Competitive Balance pick significantly boosts a farm system already ranked among the deeper pools in baseball. Slater de Brun and Caden Bodine were both first-round picks in the 2025 draft, bringing youth and upside to the organization. Michael Forret and Austin Overn offer additional pitching and athleticism in the outfield to round out the Rays’ return. (BaltimoreBaseball.com)
This return gives the Rays an influx of high-ceiling talent and future draft capital, even as they part with a controllable starter. (BaltimoreBaseball.com)
