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The Baltimore Orioles have acquired starting pitcher Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Friday.
Outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn and a Competitive Balance Round A pick will be going to the Rays in exchange for the 26-year-old right-hander.
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Baz was a 2017 first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was dealt to the Rays as part of the Tyler Glasnow-Chris Archer deal. Baz has pitched all four of his MLB seasons in Tampa, compiling 293 strikeouts over 286 innings with a 4.25 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 17-17 record.
But injuries have limited Baz to only 54 career starts. In 2022, he made six starts after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. Later that season, after being diagnosed with a right elbow strain, he underwent Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entirety of the 2023 season. He returned in 2024 and made 14 starts.
Baz is estimated to make $3.1 million in 2026, according to MLB Trade Rumors, as he goes through salary arbitration. He is under club control through the 2028 season.
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The Rays weren’t finished with moves following the Baz trade. They also sent second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pirates as part of a three-team deal. In that swap, the Pirates also receive outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery, the Houston Astros get righty Mike Burrows, and the Rays pick up two of the Astros’ top-10 prospects in outfielder Jacob Melton and righty Anderson Brito.