Orioles sign Shane Baz to five-year, $68 million contract extension

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baz-shane/4jzlboUR/"]Baz[/a], 26, was originally acquired in the offseason in a trade involving the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-rays/GCHgI4hp/"]Tampa Bay Rays[/a]. The Houston native tossed a less-than-favorable 4.87 earned run average last season with 176 strikeouts through 166.1 innings of work, giving up 158 hits and 64 walks.[/p][p]He missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missed significant time in 2024 while dealing with an oblique injury. It wasn't until last year that Baz pitched in his first full season since entering the league in 2021.[/p][embed guid="8167e406-be63-4b21-b492-62d51e39de60" url="https://x.com/Orioles/status/2037645928731951376?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Baz had a solid Spring Training for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/baltimore-orioles/EcZwBi3N/"]Orioles[/a], giving up just three runs on five hits in 10.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and four walks. Teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alexander-blaze/jBj8za0P/"]Blaze Alexander[/a], who was also acquired in a trade this offseason, called Baz's stuff during the spring [b]"electric."[/b][/p][p][b]"We were ecstatic to acquire a pitcher of Shane's talent during the offseason and are thrilled we could come to a long-term agreement to keep him in Baltimore,"[/b] said Mike Elias, President of Baseball Operations.[/p][embed guid="2467373d-184b-4191-81ed-13f46abe383a" url="https://x.com/ByMattWeyrich/status/2027472704404705302?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Orioles took home a 2-1 Opening Day win over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-twins/OjWW1naM/"]Minnesota Twins[/a] on Thursday. Game 2 of their opening series will take place on Saturday, March 28th. [/p]