The Baltimore Orioles agreed Friday to a $68 million, five-year contract through 2030 with newly acquired right-hander Shane Baz.
Baz came to Baltimore from Tampa Bay in a trade in December. He's scheduled to make his first start for the Orioles on Sunday against Minnesota.
“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,” Orioles president Mike Elias said. “Our ownership group, led by David Rubenstein, continues to provide our organization with support and resources as we pursue consistent success on the field.”
The 26-year-old Baz went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA last season in 31 starts. That was his first full season after Tommy John surgery.
The deal is a significant commitment for this Baltimore front office, which has largely stuck to short contracts when signing pitchers. But the Orioles gave up four prospects — including two drafted in the top 40 last year — plus a competitive balance pick (No. 33) this year to acquire Baz. Clearly, Baltimore sees a lot of potential in Baz, who was a first-round selection by Pittsburgh back in 2017.
Baz dealt with elbow problems in 2022 and eventually needed Tommy John surgery. He went 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts in 2024 before more than doubling that start total a season ago.
Baz initially reached a $3.5 million deal for 2026, avoiding arbitration. Now he has a superseding long-term agreement instead, which was first reported by ESPN. Before this deal, Baz had three more seasons before free agency.
Also on Friday, the Orioles announced infielder Jackson Holliday (hand) was beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.
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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Shane Baz (34) throws during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Five men involved in a fatal shooting at a sweet 16 party in Alabama were sentenced Friday to five years in prison after taking plea deals that were sharply criticized by some of the victims’ families.
Four people were killed and more than 30 were wounded when gunfire erupted at the 2023 birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama. The violence rocked the small city of 3,200 residents located about 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery.
Willie Brown, 22; Wilson Hill, 23; Travis McCollough, 19; Tyreese McCollough, 20; and Sherman Peters, 18, pleaded guilty to reckless murder. They were sentenced to five years in prison and 15 years on probation. A sixth defendant was given youthful offender status and his court records are not public.
Only one defendant, Tyreese McCollough, addressed the court, saying he was “very sorry” for what happened, according to news outlets.
Some family members criticized the plea deal, saying the sentences were not adequate punishment for the gravity of the crime and the young lives that were lost.
Four young people, including two high school seniors, were killed in the shooting that drew national attention: Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18; Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19; and Corbin Holston, 23.
“What justice would look like, it would be at least 30 years,” Amy Jackson, Smith's cousin, told WSFA.
District Attorney Mike Segrest told the court that the plea deals provided the best outcome, WSFA reported. He said the evidence showed that the defendants exchanged gunfire with Holston but they could not determine who shot first.
The five defendants pleaded guilty to the deaths of Dowdell, Smith and Collins. The charge involving Holston was dropped.
FILE - Candles with the names of the four young people killed in a shooting sit outside the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on April 19, 2023, in Dadeville, Ala. (AP Photo/Kimberly Chandler, File)
