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A pair of Yankees rivals are linking up on a significant trade.
The Orioles acquired starter Shane Baz from the Rays in exchange for outfielders Slater de Brun and Austin Overn, catcher Caden Bodine, pitcher Michael Forret and a competitive balance draft pick, the teams announced Friday afternoon.
Baz, 26, posted a 4.87 ERA while striking out 9.5 batters per nine innings across 31 starts for Tampa Bay last season.
In his return from Tommy John Surgery in 2024, Baz pitched much better, logging a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts.
Shane Baz #11 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the first inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. Getty ImagesBaz is under team control for the next three seasons through 2028.
Baltimore appears to have given up a haul to bring in the right-hander.
Bodine and de Brun were taken 30th and 37th overall, respectively, by the Orioles in the 2025 MLB Draft just six months ago.
The pair, along with Forret, all had ranked in the top 11 of the Orioles’ farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.
Overn was Baltimore’s No. 30 prospect.
The prospects add to a Rays farm system that was ranked No. 10 in baseball by MLB Pipeline in August.
The deal continues what has been a busy offseason for the Orioles.
In November, the Orioles traded young pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward.
Earlier this month, they shockingly signed former Mets slugger Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million free agent contract, ending his tenure in Queens.
Baltimore also signed flamethrower Ryan Helsley, who was a Mets trade deadline bust last season.
Orioles starters had a 4.65 ERA in 2025, which was the seventh-highest mark in baseball.
After acquiring Ward and Alonso, adding to a lineup full of young bats, the Orioles had been rumored to be in the market for more starting pitching.
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