Orioles Commit to Rotation Overhaul After Disappointing Season, Lock Up Shane Baz to Avoid Arbitration

The Baltimore Orioles are entering a pivotal offseason with a clear sense of urgency. After a frustrating campaign that saw the club finish 75–87 and land in last place in the AL East for the first time since 2021, the front office has made it clear that standing pat is not an option.

Instead, Baltimore has chosen a decisive path: revamping the starting rotation.

The Orioles’ struggles in 2025 exposed a glaring weakness on the mound, and the organization has responded with bold moves, calculated risks, and a renewed commitment to pitching depth. That strategy was underscored this week when Baltimore reached an agreement with right-handed starter Shane Baz to avoid arbitration, officially locking in one of the rotation’s most important arms for the upcoming season.

According to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, Baz will earn $3.5 million in 2026, a deal that reflects both his upside and the team’s belief that better days are ahead.

Orioles Begin Reset by Trading Grayson Rodriguez

Baltimore’s pitching overhaul began with a move that surprised many around the league.

The Orioles traded Grayson Rodriguez, a supremely talented but injury-prone starter, to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward. While the deal strengthened the lineup, it also sent a clear message: durability and reliability are now being prioritized over raw potential.

Rodriguez’s talent was never in question. His availability was.

That reality, combined with a rotation that consistently struggled to provide length and stability, forced Baltimore’s hand. The front office recognized that reshaping the staff would require both subtraction and targeted additions.

Shane Baz Deal Signals Long-Term Commitment

The most significant addition came last month, when the Orioles completed a blockbuster trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire Shane Baz, one of the most intriguing young pitchers in the American League.

Baz, still just 26 years old, is expected to slot in as Baltimore’s No. 2 starter, immediately elevating the rotation’s ceiling. While the Orioles paid a steep price in prospects, the organization believes it acquired a pitcher capable of anchoring the staff for years to come.

One of the most appealing aspects of the deal is Baz’s contract status. The former first-round pick remains under team control through the 2028 season, with two arbitration-eligible years still ahead. By avoiding arbitration now, Baltimore secured cost certainty and preserved payroll flexibility.

For a team attempting to compete in baseball’s toughest division, that control is invaluable.

Baz’s Career: High Upside, Health Questions

Shane Baz’s career arc has been defined by both promise and adversity.

After flashing elite stuff early in his career, Baz missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. When he returned in 2024, the results were nothing short of encouraging.

In 14 starts that season, Baz posted:

3.06 ERA

1.059 WHIP

131 ERA+

2.2 bWAR

Those numbers placed him firmly among the league’s most effective starters on a per-start basis. His command, velocity, and ability to miss bats suggested that he was fully healthy and capable of reaching top-of-the-rotation levels.

Regression in 2025 — But Reasons for Optimism Remain

The 2025 season, however, was more uneven.

Baz made a career-high 31 starts, proving he could handle a full workload for the first time since surgery. But performance-wise, he struggled to find consistency, finishing with:

4.87 ERA

1.335 WHIP

84 ERA+

Despite the inflated run totals, there were positives. Baz struck out 176 batters in 166.1 innings, showing that his raw stuff remained intact. For Baltimore, that matters.

The Orioles believe the regression stemmed more from fatigue, command lapses, and post-surgery workload management than any fundamental decline in ability.

Internally, the expectation is that Baz will settle closer to his 2024 form, making him a strong and reliable No. 2 starter behind the rotation’s top arm.

Orioles Add Stability With Zach Eflin Return

Baz isn’t the only arm Baltimore has locked in.

The Orioles also re-signed veteran right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year, $10 million deal for the 2026 season. While Eflin doesn’t possess the upside of Baz, he provides something the rotation sorely lacked last year: experience and dependability.

Eflin’s ability to eat innings, limit walks, and stabilize the middle of the rotation makes him an ideal complement to younger, higher-variance arms.

Together, Baz and Eflin represent two different approaches to fixing the same problem — one focused on upside, the other on reliability.

Orioles Still Searching for Another Arm

Despite these moves, Baltimore appears far from finished.

League sources expect the Orioles to trade for another starting pitcher before the offseason concludes. That’s hardly surprising given the competition they face in the AL East, where the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays remain well-armed.

The Orioles understand that marginal improvements won’t be enough. To climb out of the division’s basement, they need firepower, depth, and insurance against injuries.

Adding one more established starter would:

Reduce pressure on Baz

Provide depth against inevitable injuries

Improve matchup flexibility in divisional play

Why the Orioles Are Betting on Pitching in 2026

The logic behind Baltimore’s strategy is clear.

The offense showed flashes of promise, especially with the addition of Taylor Ward. But in a division dominated by power lineups and elite bullpens, starting pitching sets the tone.

Last season, the Orioles too often found themselves trailing early, forcing the bullpen into extended, unsustainable workloads. That formula simply doesn’t work in the AL East.

By investing in controllable starters like Baz and supplementing them with veterans like Eflin, Baltimore is attempting to build a rotation capable of keeping games competitive deep into contests.

Final Thoughts: A Clear Direction for Baltimore

After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Orioles are no longer straddling the fence between rebuilding and contending. The moves this offseason point to a franchise committed to recalibration, not retreat.

Locking up Shane Baz, re-signing Zach Eflin, and continuing to explore pitching upgrades all signal a front office determined to prevent another last-place finish.

The risk is real. Baz’s health and consistency remain question marks. But the upside — a cost-controlled, high-end starter entering his prime — is exactly the type of bet Baltimore needs to make.

In the unforgiving landscape of the AL East, standing still is the fastest way to fall behind. The Orioles understand that now.

And with Shane Baz penciled in near the top of the rotation, Baltimore has taken an important first step toward climbing back into relevance.