Orioles Owner Signals More Contract Extensions Coming After Shane Baz Deal

Baltimore's commitment to long-term success could lead to more key players being locked up.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:05pm

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After the Baltimore Orioles signed pitcher Shane Baz to a $68 million contract extension, team owner David Rubenstein spoke to the media alongside GM Mike Elias, indicating that more contract extensions could be on the way. Rubenstein said the ownership group is 'open for business' and encouraged Elias to get the Baz deal done, expressing a desire to build a championship-caliber team and make the fans proud.

Why it matters

The Orioles have been in a rebuilding phase in recent years, but the Baz extension and Rubenstein's comments suggest the team is ready to start investing in its core players long-term. Keeping top talent like Baz under contract could be a sign that the Orioles are ready to take the next step and compete for the playoffs in the coming seasons.

The details

The Orioles signed the 26-year-old Baz, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, to a 5-year, $68 million contract extension. Elias said the team was 'ecstatic' to keep Baz in Baltimore long-term, and Rubenstein indicated the ownership group is willing to provide the resources needed to build a championship-caliber team.

  • The Baz extension was announced on March 28, 2026.
  • The Orioles' 2026 season is currently underway.

The players

Shane Baz

A 26-year-old pitcher who was acquired by the Orioles in the offseason and recently signed a 5-year, $68 million contract extension.

Mike Elias

The general manager and president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles, who spoke highly of Baz and the team's desire to keep him long-term.

David Rubenstein

The owner of the Baltimore Orioles, who encouraged the Baz extension and expressed the team's willingness to invest in building a championship-caliber roster.

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What they’re saying

“We're open for business. Mike has a great reputation in knowing how to assess talent, and so we're very happy with this. When he told me this was possible, we encouraged him to move forward and get it done. So we hope it's a sign to people that we're very serious about making this a long-term proposition for the ownership group and for the team, and we want to do as much as we can to make this team a championship team and make bottom we're proud of the team we've put on the field.”

— David Rubenstein, Owner, Baltimore Orioles

“We were ecstatic to acquire a pitcher of Shane's talent during the offseason and are thrilled we could come to a long-term agreement to keep him in Baltimore. Our ownership group, led by David Rubenstein, continues to provide our organization with support and resources as we pursue consistent success on the field.”

— Mike Elias, General Manager and President of Baseball Operations, Baltimore Orioles

What’s next

It remains to be seen which other key Orioles players the team will look to sign to long-term contract extensions in the coming months as they aim to build a championship contender.

The takeaway

The Orioles' commitment to keeping Shane Baz long-term and the owner's comments about being 'open for business' suggest the team is ready to start investing in its core players and take the next step towards sustained success on the field. This could lead to more contract extensions for other top Orioles talents in the near future.