Orioles secure Shane Baz for five years at a surprisingly low $13.6 million annually. Is this a pre-emptive strike on a future ace?
The most luxurious position in the MLB is starting pitcher, as the best ones can make as much as $40 million a year.
Even the most average starting pitchers can make millions of dollars, which is why the market for starters every off-season is inflated.
We've seen pitchers like Zack Wheeler get paid $42 million dollars a year annually, which is the 4th highest annual value contract in the league. While Wheeler is a phenomenal pitcher, is he really worth that much?
On March 27, 2026, the Baltimore Orioles locked down recently acquired starter Shane Baz on a five-year, $68 million dollar contract extension.
In my opinion, this extension will be one of the leagues best contracts when its all said and done.
Baltimore Orioles Starting Pitcher Shane Baz | © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesWhen Baltimore acquired Baz in late December, they saw an opportunity to add a high velocity, high strikeout arm who has years of team control.
Baltimore valued Baz so highly, that they traded three top 11 prospects to their division rivals (the Tampa Bay Rays) for him. Baz immediately displayed what makes him such a dynamic pitcher in spring training; that being his strikeout upside as he posted a 12.2 K/9 across 10.1 innings.
When Baltimore officially extended Baz, it was a clear sign that they believe in his longterm health, and ability to be a good pitcher at the major league level.
With that being said, Baltimore got Baz on an absolute bargain, as he is only 26 years-old and has his best years ahead of him.
Baz is only making $13.6 million dollars per year for the next five, which could look like a steal after this season.
For reference, Nick Martinez, Justin Verlander, Shane Bieber and Nick Pivetta are the only other pitchers in baseball who are making $13-$13.9 million dollars annually a year.
It's not like Martinez, Verlander, Bieber and Pivetta aren't good pitchers, because they are, but Baz has the potential to be better than all of them after this season.
Baltimore saw an opportunity to lock up one of their more promising pitchers before his market value increased. If Baz has the year that most fans are expecting him to have, he may out price his way out of Baltimore -- similar to Trevor Rogers.
Baz is set to make his Baltimore debut on Sunday, against the Minnesota Twins at 1:35 PM ET, where he will be able to prove to his new fanbase why he's deserving of that new contract.