Thu, Jul 10, 2025 at 10:40am

RAYS BRING IN BAKER

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired pitcher Bryan Baker from the Baltimore Orioles for a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick in 2025 (No. 37 overall).

What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays bolster their bullpen depth with the addition of Baker. The right-hander has been a useful middle-relief option for several seasons in Baltimore. He was seeing more high-leverage work this season, too, with 10 holds and 2 saves in 42 appearances. Baker could now be in the mix as a setup man in Tampa Bay ahead of closer Pete Fairbanks.

What does it give the Baltimore Orioles
It's been a disappointing season for the Orioles, and Baker could be the first of several players moved before the trade deadline. Baltimore will be retooling and they should be able to add a decent player to their prospect pool with this draft pick.

Fantasy impact
Baker should get a slight boost after this trade. The Rays are winning more games than the Orioles, so he will see more opportunities for holds. He also strikes out enough hitters to have value in deep fantasy leagues.