Full details of Orioles' Shane Baz trade finalized after Rays draft well-rounded high school shortstop

When the Baltimore Orioles traded for Shane Baz this past offseason, the list of prospects they sent back in return felt long. However, it wasn't just prospects that the Orioles included in the package for Baz; they also sent over the 33rd pick in this year's MLB draft. The Rays just used that pick to draft high school shortstop Taj Marchand. Having made that pick, the Shane Baz trade is now completed; here is the full package:

Orioles get Shane Baz. Rays get Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Slater De Brun, Austin Overn, and Taj Marchand.

The Orioles gave up a lot for Shane Baz

It felt like a lot at the time, and now, with a fifth name added to the trade instead of a mysterious draft pick, it feels like even more. So the question is: did the Orioles overpay for Baz?

It's a matter of perspective. The Orioles needed and still need starting pitching. Baz had three seasons of control left on his contract. He had the tools and the pitches that made it so the Orioles could project middle-of-the-rotation production from him, and he's still young enough that it's possible there could still be a developmental leap that takes him up a level. The Orioles clearly believed in Baz enough to even extend him. He'll be a member of the Orioles rotation for many years.

The Orioles team is full of young players on long rookie contracts, and there just isn't room for everyone in their farm system to come up and play for the Orioles. At some point, the Orioles have to use some of their prospects to fill obvious holes on their team. That's what they did with this trade. It's a sound process.

Looking beyond the process at the actual results, it's been a mixed bag. Baz has had bouts of poor command and seen his results fluctuate. His 4.21 ERA is worse than what the Orioles were hoping to get when they traded such a large package for him. On the other hand, if you look at Baz's game logs, he almost always pitches 6+ innings and gives the Orioles a chance to win in his outings. He's been a workhorse for them, and he's flashed the upside that the Orioles believed in.

Overall, it's an encouraging season for Baz; the Orioles and their fans will hope that this is an effort that he can build on going forward and, over the next five seasons, be more in the mid-3s ERA instead of the fours. With what he's shown so far, it feels very possible.

Looking at what the Orioles sent the Rays, it's also a mixed bag. Caden Bodine is now a top 100 prospect. Obviously, the Orioles would have preferred not to have given up a recent first-round pick that is so quickly rising up prospect rankings, but you have to give something to get something.

Forret got off to a hot start in Double-A this season but has an ERA near six since being moved up to Triple-A. Overn is having a nice season, but the Orioles have outfield prospects they like more that are closer to the big leagues. Slater De Brun is yet to make his professional debut. Just looking at those players, it feels like a pretty even trade.

Marchand is the player who has the ability to tip this trade in the favor of the Rays. If he flies through the minors and the Rays get an impact infielder with this pick, it's going to be hard for the Orioles to stomach unless Baz pitches a lot better.

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