MIKE BURKE

Allegany Communications Sports

The Baltimore Orioles continue to cook during the Hot Stove season having acquired 26-year-old right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz (no relation to Steve Bazarnic) from the Tampa Bay Rays last Friday.

But that wasn’t the only big news of the day for area baseball fans as the Pittsburgh Pirates awoke from their winters-long slumber to make what, so far, is the biggest win-now trade of general manager Ben Cherington’s time in Pittsburgh, as they sent right-hander Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros in exchange for second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty Mason Montgomery from the Rays.

The trade answers a couple of needs for the Bucs who wanted to add a productive left-handed bat, as Lowe, the former Maryland Terp, is coming off an All-Star season in which he hit 31 home runs. Mangum, a strong defender, provides stability and depth in the outfield, while Montgomery is a southpaw who can throw 100 mph.

With Baz, the Orioles bolster their rotation for 2026 and beyond, as the right-hander is under team control for three years.

It’s been a very busy winter in Baltimore, as the club has addressed its lineup by signing Pete Alonso and trading for Taylor Ward, has added relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge and has now made a big move for a starting pitcher with more moves expected to come, beginning with a top-of-the-rotation starter.

The cost was steep for the Orioles as they gave Tampa Bay four of their top-30 prospects and a 2026 Competitive Balance pick, but in Baz they feel they have a starter who will fill the void created by the trade of right-hander Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for Ward, and who with just as high a ceiling is more likely to help the club in the short term than Rodriguez.

Bringing in offense to help a young rotation led by Paul Skenes has been the Pirates’ top priority this winter, and Cherington, who like the Orioles’ Mike Elias promised his team would be busy this winter, could add a third baseman, designated hitter or any other position player to provide depth. The Bucs are said to be one of the teams in discussion with right-handed hitting Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto.

The Pirates had a surplus of starting pitchers that could be used for trades, and so far Burrows and Johan Oviedo have been traded – Oviedo to Boston for top outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and pitching prospect Jesus Travieso.

The addition of Lowe, who the Pirates plan on being the everyday second baseman, means Nick Gonzales could be moved to the left side of the infield, with third base currently open and shortstop up in the air until Pittsburgh’s top prospect Konnor Griffin arrives.

Lowe joining Oneil Cruz and Brian Reynolds in the lineup is a nice step, but there’s still work to be done. If a third baseman can’t be found, the Pirates could seek a designated hitter or a first baseman, as they had been one of the top bidders for Kyle Schwarber before he re-signed with the Phillies.

A guy like former Oriole Ryan O’Hearn, who is a free agent coming off an All-Star season, would seem to be a good fit, as he also plays a solid first base and a respectable corner outfield. The Washington Nationals have been connected to O’Hearn as well.

Cherington said on Friday his intention is to add another proven bat besides Lowe.

While the Orioles have certainly improved their starting pitching, they still want to solidify the top of the rotation and have been in the market for free-agent left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez. They are also said to be in contact with the Miami Marlins about Edward Cabrera and with the Nationals about lefty MacKenzie Gore.

The next trade made between the BW Parkway franchises will be the first since the Montreal Expos sent Hall of Famer Tim Raines to Baltimore in 2001.

That the teams are even having conversations is the result of the new ownership in Baltimore and the resolution of the MASN war that raged between the two franchises from almost the time the Expos moved to Washington in 2005.

And to those who have been critical of Orioles president of baseball operations Elias for trading away so many high prospects for Baz, after (rightfully) taking heat for not trading prospects last winter, he was able to rebuild the farm system with a flurry of trade deadline moves, so he has the resources to do it and is clearly hellbent on making the Orioles a contending team in 2026 and 2027.

Isn’t that what Orioles fans moaned and whined about all last winter and summer? You can’t have it both ways. Be grateful this is the way Elias has chosen to go.

Hopefully, the Pirates will follow suit. Signing free agent third baseman Eugenio Suárez would be a great way to do it.

Mike Burke writes about sports and other stuff for Allegany Communications. He began covering sports for the Prince George’s Sentinel in 1981 and joined the Cumberland Times-News sports staff in 1984, serving as sports editor for over 30 years. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @MikeBurkeMDT