Bryan Baker Reportedly Traded to Rays, Orioles Land No. 37 Pick in 2025 MLB Draft

Needing to fortify their bullpen for the stretch run, the Tampa Bay Rays are adding reliever Bryan Baker in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the Orioles were sending Baker to Tampa Bay. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal added Baltimore will receive the No. 37 overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft in exchange for the right-handed pitcher.

The Rays (50-40), who are four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, have been without Hunter Bigge and Manuel Rodriguez due to arm injuries. Bigge is on the injured list with a strained lat; Rodriguez has a strained forearm.

Bigge's situation was also complicated when he suffered multiple facial fractures after being hit with a foul ball while sitting in the dugout during a June 19 game against the Orioles.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has said the facial injuries won't prevent Bigge from returning this season, but the lat issue could keep him out for the remainder of 2025. Rodriguez made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday, throwing a scoreless inning for Triple-A Durham.

Tampa's bullpen enters play on Thursday ranked 15th in MLB in ERA (3.86) and tied for 22nd in FIP (4.15). Baker is having a solid season with a 3.52 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.

If there is a concern for Baker going forward, his 1.88 homers allowed per nine innings is tied for the sixth-highest rate among all qualified relievers.

The Rays are also acquiring Baker with three additional years of team control beyond this season, so they may have had to pay a little more than is typical for a reliever with his metrics.

This is solid return for the Orioles, who have been one of the biggest disappointments in MLB with a 40-50 record. They added a high pick in a draft that's regarded as having good depth.

In addition to the extra pick, the Orioles also acquire the $2.6 million slot value for the 37th selection. This increases their total bonus pool to an MLB-high $18.9 million that will allow them to be very aggressive for players who might have high bonus demands.

Baltimore now has four of the top 37 picks and six picks in the top 69 in the draft. In what has been an otherwise frustrating season for the Orioles, this is a great opportunity for the organization to replenish its farm system that has taken a hit because of so many graduations over the past two years.

The 2025 MLB draft will take place on July 13 and 14 as part of the All-Star festivities in Atlanta.