Now, it may be a bit ambitious to hope for similar success from Baz with a new sinker, but even if it’s a watered down version, there’s plenty of reason to believe that he would be more effective right on right even just by mixing a sinker in.
There’s also just the general optimism that the more innings Baz throws and the further he is removed from Tommy John surgery and the more innings he throws, the better the breaking ball command can be.
It’s understandable why those most bullish on Baz still see the upside of a guy who can sit near the top of a strong rotation. The addition of a sinker, reworking the slider and locating his breaking balls better could parlay into reaching that massive upside.
But even finding one of the aforementioned three components in 2026 could help Baz take a big step forward, which is why the Orioles were willing to pay the price they did to bring him in…the team that parted with him was willing to admit it as well.
“Love the person, love the human and someone that we feel very, very strongly [that] the best is right in front of him,” Neander said to reporters during his media availability following the trade on Friday night. “I think that Baltimore agrees, and that speaks to why the transaction [came in] at the acquisition price that it did.”
Understanding the Orioles Trade Package
Orioles GM Mike Elias has made some trades of note in recent years, with the move for Corbin Burnes most noteworthy, as well as acquisitions of Trevor Rodgers and Zach Eflin.