The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly acquiring pitcher Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn, and a Competitive Balance Round A pick will be going to the Rays in exchange for the 26-year-old right-hander.

Baz was a 2017 first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was later dealt to the Rays as part of the Tyler Glasnow deal. He has pitched all four of his MLB seasons in Tampa, compiling 293 strikeouts over 286 innings with a 4.25 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 17-17 overall record.

Injuries have limited Baz to only 54 career starts. In 2022, he made only six starts after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. Later that season, after being diagnosed with a right elbow strain, Baz underwent Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entirety of the 2023 season. He returned during the 2024 season and made 14 starts.

Baz is estimated to make $3.1 million in 2026, according to MLB Trade Rumors, as he goes through salary arbitration. He is under club control through the 2028 season.

The Rays weren't done with moves following the Baz trade. They also sent second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pirates as part of a three-team deal. The Pirates would also receive outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery; the Houston Astros will get righty Mike Burrows; and the Rays would pick up two of the Astros' top-10 prospects in outfielder Jacob Melton and righty Anderson Brito.

John Means announced on Instagram that he tore his Achilles on the same day he was set to sign a contract for the 2026 MLB season.

"I was finally enjoying my first healthy offseason in four years and felt better than ever," Means wrote on Thursday. "I don’t know why this happened or how this chapter will ultimately be used, but I know it’s now part of my story and God has a plan."

The 32-year-old Means, a 2019 AL All-Star, did not pitch during the 2025 season. He has only appeared in 10 MLB games since 2022 due to numerous injuries, including a pair of Tommy John surgeries.

Means signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Guardians in February and made seven appearances between High-A and Triple-A. Last month, the Guardians declined their club option, making the left-hander a free agent.

Means was an 11th-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and then became a regular in the team's rotation in 2019. He started 27 games that season, posting a 12-11 record with a 1.14 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 155 innings. Along with an All-Star appearance, he finished second in voting for AL Rookie of the Year.

In 2021, Means was named the Orioles' Opening Day starter. A month later, he no-hit the Seattle Mariners with 12 strikeouts and 0 walks. He allowed only a single baserunner, who got on following a wild pitch after a strikeout.

Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and San Diego Padres fireballer Mason Miller have announced they will pitch for the United States at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Skubal, who has pitched at least 190 innings and struck out at least 228 batters over the past two seasons for the Detroit Tigers, is joining a staff that already features NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, Minnesota Twins star Joe Ryan and Nolan McLean of the New York Mets.

Miller, who has recorded 50 saves over the past two seasons with the Athletics and Padres, will be a tough out coming out of the bullpen.

Aaron Judge, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, and Bobby Witt Jr. are among the players who have already been announced to play for Team USA. Mark DeRosa will return as manager after leading the 2023 team to the championship game.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place from March 5 to March 17 in Miami, Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo. The semifinals and championship game will be played at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

The U.S. will play exhibition games against the San Francisco Giants (March 3) and Colorado Rockies (March 4). They will begin pool play on March 6 against Brazil and also play Great Britain (March 7), Mexico (March 9) and Italy (March 10).