Orioles to sign pitcher Shane Baz to 5-year, $68 million extension: sources

Jacob Calvin Meyer, The Baltimore Sun on Mar 27, 2026

Published in Baseball

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Orioles opening day Thursday went off without a hitch — beautiful weather, a bigger scoreboard, Pete Alonso’s debut and a 2-1 win.

Friday might be even better.

The Orioles on Friday afternoon agreed with starting pitcher Shane Baz on a five-year, $68 million contract extension, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Friday afternoon. The team has yet to announce the extension.

The contract will buy out two of Baz’s free agent years, keeping the right-hander in Baltimore through the 2030 season.

It’s the second major extension handed out by president of baseball operations Mike Elias since he took over before the 2019 season. In August, the Orioles signed catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension.

Baz has yet to pitch in a regular-season game for the Orioles. Baltimore acquired the 26-year-old in a trade with Tampa Bay this offseason, sending four prospects and a draft pick to the Rays for the flamethrowing former top prospect. He is scheduled to make his team debut Sunday against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards.

Baz, whose fastball can reach 100 mph, had a slow start to his big league career because of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2022. After missing all of 2023, Baz impressed in 2024 and then pitched a full season last year with a 4.87 ERA in 166 1/3 innings.

ESPN was first to report Baz’s extension.

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