The Orioles are backing their belief in Shane Baz with serious cash before he even throws a pitch in front of the home crowd. The right-hander and Baltimore are finalizing a five-year, $68 million contract extension, according to multiple reports yesterday. Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in December, Baz is expected to put pen to paper before making his Orioles debut at Camden Yards. The deal buys out his arbitration seasons and stretches Baltimore's control into his early free agent years, a clear signal the front office sees star-level upside worth paying for now.
As detailed by ESPN, the agreement would cover this season and buy out two free agent years, keeping the 26 year old under club control for an extended window. Jeff Passan notes that Baltimore is effectively wagering on Baz's premium velocity and five-pitch repertoire despite an injury history that would give some clubs pause. The outlet also frames the move as part of a broader push by the Orioles to lock in cost certainty across a young core.
The Orioles already paid a hefty price just to get Baz in the building. In a December trade with Tampa Bay, Baltimore sent outfielders Slater de Brun and Austin Overn, catcher Caden Bodine, and right-hander Michael Forret, plus a Competitive Balance Round A selection at No. 33 overall, according to MLB.com. That package underscored how badly the club wanted a high ceiling starter who could grow with its emerging lineup.
Baz's big league workload is still relatively light. ESPN reports he has thrown roughly 286 major league innings, a total held down by elbow surgeries that cost him the 2023 season and part of 2024. Even so, he set career highs last year with 31 starts, 166⅓ innings, and 176 strikeouts while posting a 4.87 ERA, signs that his stuff may be rounding back into form. Baltimore is clearly betting that more health and more big league innings in 2026 will unlock a much higher ceiling.
Where Baz Fits In
The extension effectively plants Baz in the middle of a rotation that already features Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers and that the club supplemented with veteran arms over the winter, MLB.com reports. For a team that has been aggressively adding both power bats and pitching, Baz represents a swing at a potential frontline starter at a price that could look team friendly if he clicks. For Orioles fans, the suspense is whether this becomes a bargain anchor for the staff or an expensive, long-term question mark.
What Comes Next
The two sides were expected to complete the deal before Baz's Camden Yards debut against the Minnesota Twins, according to Reuters. Once the paperwork is finished, the immediate focus turns to spring health updates and how the Orioles line up their rotation in early April. If finalized, the Baz extension will stand as one of several early long-term commitments by the Elias front office as Baltimore tries to engineer a quick rebound in the AL East.
