Orioles acquire Shane Baz from Tampa Bay Rays

Shane Baz

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor leaguers Caden Bodine (C), Slater de Brun (OF), Michael Forret (RHP), Austin Overn (OF), and a Competitive Balance Round A pick (No. 33) in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.

Baz (pronounced bahz), 26, went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA (90 ER/166.1 IP) with 158 hits (26 HR), 91 total runs, 64 walks, and 176 strikeouts in 31 starts for the Rays last season. He tossed a career-high 8.0 innings of scoreless ball on June 26 at Kansas City and completed at least 7.0 innings in five outings in 2025. His 9.52 strikeouts per nine innings and 24.6 percent strikeout rate both ranked in the top 20 of qualified major league pitchers last year. Baz has posted a 4.25 ERA (135 ER/286.0 IP) in 54 career starts, including a 3.06 ERA (27 ER/79.1 IP) in 14 games after returning from right elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in 2024. The right-hander was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round (12th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Concordia Lutheran (TX) High School. He was acquired by Tampa Bay along with right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows from Pittsburgh in exchange for right-hander Chris Archer on July 31, 2018.

Bodine, 22, was selected in the first round (30th overall) of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Coastal Carolina University (SC). He made his professional debut last season and is ranked as the No. 10 O’s prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

de Brun, 18, was selected in the Competitive Balance Round A (37th overall) in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Summit (OR) High School. He’s ranked as the No. 6 Orioles prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Forret, 21, was selected in the 14th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the State College of Florida. In 19 appearances (18 GS) last season, he posted a 1.58 ERA (13 ER/74.0 IP) between two levels and struck out 91 batters in 74.0 innings. The righty is ranked as the No. 11 O’s prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Orioles announce 2026 major league coaching staff

Mitch Plassmeyer

The Orioles today announced their 2026 major league coaching staff, led by first-year manager Craig Albernaz. Pitching Coach Drew French (3rd season), Assistant Pitching Coach Mitch Plassmeyer (3rd), Pitching Strategy Coach Ryan Klimek (4th), and Third Base Coach Buck Britton (2nd) return to the staff, while the club has hired Donnie Ecker as Bench Coach, Dustin Lind as Hitting Coach, Brady North as Assistant Hitting Coach, Jason Bourgeois as First Base Coach, Hank Conger as Bullpen Coach, Miguel Cairo as Infield Coach, and Joe Singley as Field Coordinator and Catching Coach.

Ecker, 39, spent the last four seasons with the Texas Rangers as the club’s offensive coordinator (2022-25). He also served as bench coach from 2022-24. The Rangers had at least one American League Silver Slugger Award winner in each of his first three years, and the team was selected as the winner of the inaugural team Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award in the AL in 2023 after Texas won the World Series behind a record-setting regular season in which the Rangers led the AL in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. He has also worked professionally for the San Francisco Giants as hitting coach (2020-21), Cincinnati Reds as assistant hitting coach (2019), Los Angeles Angels as Triple-A Salt Lake hitting coach (2018), and a hitting coach for St. Louis Cardinals’ Single-A teams in Peoria (2017) and Palm Beach (2015-16). The utility player was selected in the 22nd round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft by the Rangers out of Lewis-Clark State College (ID) and played two professional seasons.

Lind, 37, was the assistant hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2024-25. He spent the previous four years with the Giants as director of hitting and assistant major league hitting coach, working on the same staff all four seasons with Albernaz, and Ecker for two (2020-21). He worked as an independent hitting consultant with the Seattle Mariners from 2014-17 before joining the organization as a minor league quality assurance coach in 2018 and was promoted to director of hitting development and strategies for the major league club in 2019. The former outfielder played collegiately at Montana State University-Billings from 2007-08 and Sierra College (CA) from 2010-11.

North, 34, had been the assistant hitting coach for the Tampa Bay Rays since the start of 2022. This will be his first role outside of the Rays’ organization after serving as the hitting coach for the GCL Rays (2019) and Class-A Bowling Green (2021). He was assigned to Class-A Charlotte in the same role in 2020 before the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. North was the director of hitting and mental performance at Top Level Athletes in Orlando, Fla., among other non-professional baseball roles, prior to joining Tampa Bay. The first baseman and outfielder played with Independent Lake Erie and Washington of the Frontier League after playing collegiately at Cumberland University (TN), Jacksonville University (FL), and Hillsborough Community College (FL). The Tampa, Fla. native graduated from Gaither (FL) High School.

Bourgeois (pronounced BOOSH-wah), 43, joins the Orioles after serving as the first base and outfield coach for the Chicago White Sox for two seasons. He spent five years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, working as a minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator from 2021-23 and as a coach for Single-A Great Lakes in 2019. Bourgeois would have been on the coaching staff for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2020 before the minor league season was canceled. The former outfielder played parts of eight major league seasons from 2008-15 with the White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Rays, and Reds. He was originally selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft out of Forest Brook (TX) High School.

Orioles reassign players to minor league camp

Colin Selby

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

Optioned RHP Colin Selby to minor league camp.

Reassigned C Silas Ardoin, RHP Justin Armbruester, OF Dylan Beavers, OF Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF Jud Fabian, LHP Jakob Hernandez, RHP Yaramil Hiraldo, INF Jeremiah Jackson, RHP Robinson Martínez, RHP Carlos Tavera, and RHP Nathan Webb to minor league camp.

The Orioles’ Spring Training roster currently has 58 players (39+19 NRI).

Orioles announce spring training non-roster invitees

Matt Bowman

The Orioles today announced that they have invited 26 non-roster players to MLB Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes 10 right-handed pitchers, two left-handed pitchers, four catchers, five infielders, and five outfielders. A complete list of the Orioles’ 26 non-roster players for 2025 Spring Training is below:

Pitchers (12)

LHP Raúl Alcantara
RHP Justin Armbruester
RHP Matt Bowman
LHP Jakob Hernandez
RHP Yaramil Hiraldo
RHP Corbin Martin
RHP Robinson Martínez
RHP Rodolfo Martinez
RHP Levi Stoudt
RHP Carlos Tavera
RHP Thaddeus Ward
RHP Nathan Webb

Catchers (4)

Silas Ardoin
David Bañuelos
Samuel Basallo
Maverick Handley

Orioles acquire Luis Vázquez from the Chicago Cubs

Luis Vázquez cubs

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder Luis Vázquez from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.

Vázquez, 25, was 1-for-12 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a hit-by-pitch in 11 games with the Cubs last season. He made his MLB debut on May 22 vs. Atlanta. Vázquez slashed .263/.347/.432 (62-for-236) with 16 doubles, eight home runs, 33 runs scored, 24 RBI, 25 walks, six hit-by-pitches, and one stolen base in 64 games with Triple-A Iowa in 2024. The infielder appeared in 51 games at shortstop, seven at third base, and six at second base in Triple-A. He was originally selected by Chicago-NL in the 14th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Alberto Melendez Torres (PR) High School.

To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Orioles claim Jacob Amaya, designate Roansy Contreras

Jacob Amaya white sox

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Claimed INF Jacob Amaya off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
  • Designated RHP Roansy Contreras for assignment.

Orioles agree to terms with right-hander Charlie Morton

Charlie Morton braves

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton on a one-year major league contract for the 2025 season.

Morton, 41, went 8-10 with a 4.19 ERA (77 ER/165.1 IP) with 154 hits (23 HR), 85 total runs, 65 walks (1 IBB), 18 hit batters, and 167 strikeouts in 30 games, all starts, for the Atlanta Braves last season. He is one of four pitchers to make at least 30 starts in each full season since 2018 (not including 2020), along with José Berríos, Patrick Corbin, and Aaron Nola. During the last four years with the Braves, he combined to go 45-34 with a 3.87 ERA (295 ER/686.1 IP).

Morton is a 17-year veteran with the Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Between the five teams, he’s gone 138-123 with a 4.01 ERA (948 ER/2,125.2 IP) with 1,991 hits (203 HR), 1,045 total runs, 787 walks (25 IBB), 186 hit batters, and 2,047 strikeouts in 383 games (382 starts). His 138 wins are tied for the seventh most among active pitchers. He finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting and received a vote for Most Valuable Player in 2019 with the Rays. Morton also made the All-Star team that year, marking his second straight All-Star season after doing so with the Astros in 2018.

A native of Flemington, NJ, Morton was originally selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of Joel Barlow (CT) High School. He was acquired by Pittsburgh along with Gorkys Hernández and Jeff Locke in exchange for Nate McLouth on June 3, 2009. Philadelphia acquired him for David Whitehead on December 12, 2015. Morton then signed MLB contracts with Houston, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta.

To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher René Pinto was designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Orioles non-tender Jacob Webb

Jacob Webb

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Tendered 2025 contracts to LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Kyle Bradish, RHP Dean Kremer, INF/OF Jorge Mateo, INF Ryan Mountcastle, OF Cedric Mullins, LHP Trevor Rogers, C Adley Rutschman, LHP Gregory Soto, INF Ramón Urías, and RHP Tyler Wells, as well as all pre-arbitration 40-man players.
  • Agreed to terms with INF Emmanuel Rivera on a one-year contract for the 2025 season, avoiding arbitration.
  • Declined to tender a contract to RHP Jacob Webb, allowing him to become a free agent.

 

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 38 players.

Orioles recall Cade Povich, option Bryan Baker

povich pitching black

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Recalled LHP Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk. He will start tonight’s game.
  • Optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles sign J.D. Davis to Minor League contract

davis batting

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

 

  • Agreed to terms on a 2024 Minor League contract with INF J.D. Davis.

Orioles recall Bryan Baker, place Jacob Webb on IL

baker pitching gray

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Recalled RHP Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Placed RHP Jacob Webb on the 15-day Injured List (right elbow inflammation), retroactive to August 4.

 

Orioles recall Akin, place Kjerstad and Rodriguez on IL

akin pitching gray

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Recalled LHP Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Placed OF Heston Kjerstad on the 10-day Injured List (concussion), retroactive to August 1.
  • Placed RHP Grayson Rodriguez on the 15-day Injured List (right lat/teres discomfort), retroactive to August 4.

Orioles call up Coby Mayo, option Livan Soto

mayo white

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

 

  • Selected the contract of INF Coby Mayo from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 16 and his first appearance will be his Major League debut.
  • Optioned INF Livan Soto to Triple-A Norfolk.

 

Additionally, LHP Matt Krook has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Orioles complete 2024 First-Year Player Draft

The Baltimore Orioles made 10 selections on Day Three of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, completing Rounds 11-20. This year, the Orioles selected 21 players overall: 11 pitchers and 10 position players, with 17 of the selections being college athletes and four from the high school ranks. The Orioles selected eight right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers, four outfielders, two infielders, and four catchers.

RD             PICK             PLAYER               POS          B/T         HT         WT           DOB                     SCHOOL                           SCOUT

1                 22           Vance Honeycutt        CF            R/R         6-3       205         5/17/2003    University of North Carolina           Boyd

PPI              32            Griff O'Ferrall            INF           R/R        6-1       195        2/2/2003          University of Virginia                 O'Dowd

2                 61           Ethan Anderson          C              S/R        6-2       215        9/21/2003        University of Virginia                 O'Dowd

Orioles trade Tyler Nevin to Tigers for cash

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The Orioles have traded Tyler Nevin to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations.

Nevin was designated for assignment on Dec. 21.

Orioles reinstate Means, outright Diaz

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves: 

  • Reinstated LHP John Means from the 60-day Injured List.
  • OF Yusniel Diaz has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The 40-man roster is at 34 players.