The Tampa Bay Rays had been shopping starting pitcher Shane Baz.
Apparently, the asking price was quite high. And they got a huge return for Baz on Friday in a completed trade with the Baltimore Orioles.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal on Friday afternoon.
The Rays got five pieces back:
- OF Slater de Brun
- C Caden Bodine
- RHP Michael Forret
- OF Austin Overn
- Competitive Balance Round A pick
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de Brun is the top-ranked prospect in the deal, the No. 6 in the Orioles' system according to MLB Pipeline.
Bodine checks in as the No. 10 prospect on the Orioles' list.
Forret is right behind him at No. 11.
Overn comes in as the No. 30 prospect in Baltimore's system.
Competitive Balance Round A falls between the first and second rounds, so that's a pretty high draft pick, too.
Baz has great stuff and was a highly touted prospect, but he hasn't always been at his best in the major leagues for the Rays.
This is a chance for Tampa Bay to get its strong development system a chance at turning a bunch of players into quality big leaguers.
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