The Baltimore Orioles made a five-year, $68 million commitment to right-handed pitcher, Shane Baz, sources told ESPN via Jeff Passan.
The 26-year-old was acquired by the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays through a trade back in December. Baz has yet to make his first appearance on the mound for Baltimore ahead of big contract extension.
During his four season with the Rays, Baz tallied 293 strikeouts across 286 games. His career win-loss record sits at 17-17.
Getty
Shane Baz Faced Serious Injuries In 8-Year Career
Shane Baz was drafted 12th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 before getting traded to the Rays a year later. In 2020, Baz was ranked as the Rays fifth overall prospect and 89th in the league.
The righty spent three years in the minors before making his major league debut in 2021. However, injuries has taken a tole in the early years of Baz’s career.
Baz missed the start of the 2022 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. He made his return in June, but was quickly placed on the 15-day IL.
In September, Baz was scheduled to miss the entire 2023 season–and half of 2024–with a Tommy John surgery on the same elbow.
In his 2024 return, Baz posted a 3.06 ERA and tallied 69 strikeouts through 14 games, and has not seen the injury list since.
Baz’s 2025 campaign. did put up higher numbers with a 4.87 ERA, well above the league average for starting pitchers. He also racked up a total 176 strikeouts.
Getty
Baltimore Orioles Looking to Fix Distinct Pitching Weakness With Baz Extension.
Although Shane Baz has yet to take the mound as an Oriole at Camden Yards in Baltimore, his three Spring Training starts proved him worthy of a five-year extension. Through 10.1 innings, Baz posted a 2.61 ERA with 14 strikeouts.
The Orioles pitching staff struggled in 2025. They were ranked 26th in ERA, batting average against, and walks and hits per inning pitched, according to Fox Sports.
The Athletic’s Eno Sarris lists Baz as the Orioles breakout arm in 2026, helping a starting rotation find it’s groove again after a low season.
“He also made an adjustment last year, going away from a slider that consistently landed middle/middle to a cutter he could throw to better parts of the zone,” Sarris said in his article. “He’s always had a good fastball/curveball duo, he’s figuring out the rest of his arsenal and he’s headed to a normal park situation in Baltimore. The stars are aligning.”
The Orioles spent their offseason trying to patch holes in their pitching. Including signing Trevor Rogers to a $6.2 million deal in January.
During his time in Tampa Bay, Baz dominated the Orioles in three starts at Camden Yards. He posted a 0.56 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 16 innings.
Baz’s first start is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, against the Minnesota Twins in Baltimore at 1:35 P.M. ET.
Baltimore Orioles Finalize $68 Million Deal With 293 Strikeout Pitcher