Locked On Orioles - Daily Podcast On The Baltimore Orioles

BREAKING: Orioles sign Shane Baz to a 5-year contract extension! —REACTION & ANALYSIS

10 snips
Mar 27, 2026
Big news: a five-year, $68M contract for a newly acquired starting pitcher. Discussion covers how the deal counts service time and why it is considered team-friendly. Breakdown of the reported salary structure and comparables to other pitchers. Conversation about injury history, upside, and how the move shapes the long-term rotation and organizational strategy.
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INSIGHT

Extension Structure Moves Baz's Free Agency

  • The Orioles signed Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million extension that begins in 2026 and runs through 2030.
  • The deal counts Baz's arbitration years, adds two free-agent years, and moves his free agency from after 2028 to after 2030.
INSIGHT

Average Annual Value Makes Baz A Team-Friendly Gamble

  • The contract averages roughly $13.5 million per year and will be the Orioles' competitive balance tax hit.
  • Connor compares it to Sugano ($13M) and Morton ($15M), calling Baz a potential steal at that rate for a back-end or better starter.
INSIGHT

Escalating Pay Structure Front-Loads Team Control

  • Fangraphs' reported payout escalates: $1.8M in 2026, $7.8M in 2027, $10.8M in 2028, then $21.8M and $25.8M in 2029-30.
  • That front-loaded pay cut vs arbitration in 2026 trades early money for big back-end security.
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