ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Baltimore Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival Tampa Bay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overall pick in the 2025 MLB amateur draft.
Baker is having a solid season, posting a 3.52 ERA, striking out 49 batters and posting a 1.096 WHIP in 38 1/3 innings as the setup man for closer Felix Bautista.
He joins a Rays team that briefly surged to the top of the American League East standings but has lost seven of 10 games. Tampa Bay is second in the AL Wild Card standings.
Baker made his major league debut in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays, then spent 2022-25 with the Orioles.
For his career, he is 12-9 with a 3.70 ERA in 174 games.
He will join the Rays during their series at the Boston Red Sox that starts Thursday night.
“It’s always been a really good staff, top to bottom,” Baker said of the Rays staff, according to MLB.com. “They clearly know what they’re doing in terms of developing arms and figuring out how to get guys out at the big league level. I’m excited to learn over there, for sure.”
The Orioles, coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, are in last place in the AL East and may be looking toward next season.
The MLB draft begins Sunday.