The Baltimore Orioles and right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz are finalizing a five-year, $68 million extension,ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Friday.
Because Baz, 26, is currently under team control through the 2028 season, the reported contract would buy out his three remaining years of arbitration as well as his first two years as a free agent,according to MLB.com.
The Orioles acquired Bazin a five-player, prospect-filled trade with the Tampa Bay Rays back in December.In return, the Rays received outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn and the No. 33 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Baz was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the righty yet then sent him to the Rays a year later in the trade that landed Pittsburgh Chris Archer. It wasn't long until Baz showcased his potential in Tampa.
But before his career could take off, injury caused it to take a detour. He had a pair of elbow surgeries. Tommy John surgery sidelined him the entire 2023 season and half of the 2024 campaign.
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Since, he's stayed away from the injured list. He made 45 of his 54 starts with the Rays over the past two seasons. Although the 4.87 ERA he posted last year was on the higher side, his 176 strikeouts inspired confidence in what he has to offer long term.
He's got quite an arm, as evidenced by the 97 mph average fastball velocity he recorded in his first full season, good for seventh among qualified starters in 2025,according to FanGraphs. His arsenal includes four other pitches, a knuckle curve chief among them. His stuff is enticing, and the Orioles are betting on him being a big part of their future on the mound.
Bringing aboard Baz was just one of the Orioles' splash additions in a head-turning offseasonthat also saw them sign slugging first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year deal reportedly worth $155 million.
Baltimore's starting rotation got off to an auspicious start on Opening Day, when lefty Trevor Rogers spun seven shutout innings in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The Orioles are hoping outings like that are on the horizon for Baz in Baltimore, too. He's expected to make his O's debut on Sunday against the Twins.