Rays Acquire Reliever in Trade With Division Rivals

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed reliever Bryan Baker from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for the 37th pick in this year’s Competitive Balance (Round A) Draft.

Rays Acquire Reliever in Trade With Division Rivals

Baker, 30, will bring his power-pitching style to Tampa Bay as they continue to compete at the top of the American League. The right-handed reliever has thrown 38 1/3 innings in 2025, pitching to a 3.52 ERA with a 32.5% strikeout rate and a 6% walk rate. His fastball sits around 97 MPH, and he pairs it with a changeup that opponents are hitting .154 against. He has struggled with the long ball this year, giving up 8 home runs in 42 appearances. However, he has suffered some bad luck, as 20% of the flyballs he has allowed have left the yard, compared to the league average of just above 11%.

Baker should continue to work in high-leverage roles once he arrives in Tampa Bay, as he already has 10 holds this year. With Garrett Cleavinger and Pete Fairbanks already in the back end of the Rays bullpen, adding Baker will help the Rays bullpen, which currently boasts a 3.86 ERA.

Is this the beginning of a retool for Baltimore?

Its no secret that the Orioles, who currently last in the A.L. East at 40-50, may be looking to sell before the trade deadline. The club owns four of the first 37 picks in this year’s draft that will be used to add to one of the best young cores in all of baseball, so a retool may not be a bad choice for the club.

If they end up selling, it seems they will prioritize young talent that is nearing the big league level. Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, Zach Eflin, and Tomoyuki Sugano’s contracts all expire at the end of this year and could be good pieces for teams in the playoff hunt. With a core headlined by Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, adding MLB-ready bats and arms would allow them to jump back into contention for the 2026 season.