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Did The Orioles Extend The Right Pitchers?

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Did The Orioles Extend The Right Pitchers?

Originally posted on MLB Trade Rumors | By Charlie Wright | Last updated Oct 10, 2026 11:22 PM ET

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The Orioles locked up two starting pitchers this year. The club reached a five-year, $68MM extension with Shane Baz shortly before Opening Day. He’ll be under contract through 2030. Baltimore also agreed to a five-year extension with Kyle Bradish. His $90MM deal came together around the All-Star Break and will keep him with the team through 2031.

Baz came over in an intradivision trade with the Rays. The Orioles sent four prospects and a draft pick to Tampa Bay. Baz was coming off a 4.87 ERA in 2025, though he proved he could handle a legitimate workload after dealing with injuries in previous seasons.

The 27-year-old Baz had a mediocre debut year in Baltimore. He posted a 4.11 ERA across 31 starts. That mark was supported by a 4.26 xERA and a 4.31 xFIP. Baz’s repertoire was similar with the Orioles. He leaned on a four-seamer, knuckle-curveball, and cutter, along with a changeup to lefties. The main difference with his new team was the addition of a sinker and the subtraction of the slider.

Baz only used the sinker at an 8.8% clip, but it changed his profile in multiple areas. The righty trimmed his HR/9 to a career-best 0.75. The sinker didn’t allow a homer. Baz also had a career-worst 20.0% strikeout rate, which isn’t surprising with the addition of a low-whiff pitch like a sinker. Ditching the slider helped Baz keep the ball in the yard. The decision also eliminated what’s been an excellent swing-and-miss pitch at times.

The 27-year-old Baz comes with an impressive pedigree. He was the 12th overall draft pick in 2017. He was one of the top pitching prospects in Tampa Bay’s system when he debuted in 2021. The injuries kept him from becoming a staple in the Rays’ rotation, but he’s up to 85 MLB starts. He has a 4.19 ERA with estimators around 4.00 as a big leaguer.

Bradish wasn’t drafted by the Orioles, but he’s basically a homegrown arm. The 30-year-old righty has spent nearly his entire pro career with Baltimore. He joined the organization in 2019 as part of the trade that sent Dylan Bundy to the Angels.

The path for Bradish to becoming a reliable rotation option has been far from smooth. He scuffled to a 4.90 ERA over 23 starts as a rookie in 2022. Bradish broke through in 2023 with a 2.83 ERA across 30 outings. A .270 BABIP fueled the sub-3.00 ERA, but he had a 3.76 xERA and a 3.53 xFIP. Bradish seemed like a keeper.

After a phenomenal start to 2024, Bradish went down with an elbow injury that eventually led to surgery. He was limited to a total of 14 starts from 2024 through 2025. Bradish flashed massive strikeout stuff in that stretch, punching out opponents well over 30% of the time.

The strikeouts plummeted this year. Bradish had a career-low 21.2% strikeout rate in 2026. His walk rate jumped to 10.5%, though he smoothed out those issues in the second half. Bradish’s season was cut short by a sports hernia in September.

Baz will be on the books at a reasonable price for the duration of his deal. Paying Bradish $28MM in 2031 might be a bit steep, but his agreement won’t break the bank. However, based on how the 2026 season played out, it’s fair to wonder whether the club should’ve spent that money elsewhere.

Trevor Rogers was dealt to the Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline. Baltimore parted with Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby in the deal. Stowers has become an All-Star with the Marlins, and his production surely would’ve boosted an underwhelming Orioles outfield. But the swap has paid major dividends for Baltimore.

Rogers delivered 18 starts of a 1.81 ERA in 2025. He had a stretch of 15 straight starts allowing two earned runs or fewer. The lefty struggled to begin 2026, carrying an ERA near 7.00 through May. He missed time with an illness over that span. Rogers rebounded with a 2.90 ERA over the final four months of the season.

The Orioles listened to offers for Rogers at the 2025 trade deadline. They likely received calls again this year. He ultimately remained with the team. MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald made the case for the club to pursue an extension with Rogers. Instead, he’s slated to hit the open market. Rogers ranked third on our final Free Agent Power Rankings . After Tarik Skubal, he’s in the mix as one of the most desirable starters available, along with Freddy Peralta and Michael King.

Baltimore could still re-sign Rogers. The club will certainly make him a qualifying offer. There’s a chance he wasn’t interested in an extension as he neared free agency for the first time. Rogers has been one of the biggest success stories in the recent history of the organization, and if he departs, he’ll leave a major hole in Baltimore’s rotation.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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