O’s trade reliever Baker to Rays for draft pick
BALTIMORE — The Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival Tampa Bay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overall pick in the 2025 MLB amateur draft, a sign that one of baseball’s most disappointing clubs could be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias wouldn’t completely commit to that idea. Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the New York Mets, he cited the 2024 Detroit Tigers, who traded players off their major league roster but held on to ace Tarik Skubal and then surged into a playoff spot.
Elias did, however, acknowledge the possibility of selling on a day that began with last-place Baltimore (40-50) sitting 12½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and seven out of the final AL wild-card spot.
“I think it’s a step in that direction,” said Elias three weeks before the July 31 deadline. “There’s no way around that. The timing of the draft, and when you have draft picks involved in the trades, kind of front-loads these decisions, and it’s earlier than my comfort level. But we thought it was a really good return and a good trade for everyone. So, we did it.”
The draft begins Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.
After a dreadful start that brought the May dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles have steadied under interim skipper Tony Mansolino, playing to a 21-14 record since a loss to St. Louis on May 28.
Baker was a solid part of that, posting a 3.52 ERA, striking out 49 batters and posting a 1.096 WHIP in 38⅓ innings as the setup man for closer Felix Bautista.
“This is a team that is moving in the right direction, and we still have a lot of time left before the deadline, but this was a trade with the draft coming up in a couple days that we had to make a decision on,” Elias said. “We didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity. Hopefully, we can use the pick wisely, bring a lot of value back, and Bryan’s going to a good place.”
Mansolino is also hoping his team will get replenishments in the form of players eventually returning from the injured list. That sizable group includes several possible starting pitchers: Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder), Albert Suarez (shoulder), Tyler Wells (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery).
Meanwhile, Baltimore will now have four of the first 37 and seven of the first 93 draft picks.
“All the drafts are important, but when you have this amount of picks, it becomes more important, there’s no question about it,” Elias said. “There’s just a much bigger opportunity ahead of us, and the draft is a lifeblood for our franchise.”
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David Hale
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Gio Lopez will be North Carolina‘s starting quarterback on Monday against TCU when the Tar Heels officially kick off the Bill Belichick era.
Belichick announced the former South Alabama QB as the starter, saying Lopez has made good strides in adapting to the Tar Heels’ playbook since joining the team following the spring transfer portal window.
“We’ll give him the majority of the reps in practice and get him as much preparation as possible,” Belichick said. “But I feel comfortable with him and what he’s doing. He’ll get better as we go forward just because we will. I think he’s ready, but I think he’ll be like everybody — more ready as we go forward.”
Last season at South Alabama, Lopez completed 66% of his throws for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 picks, along with another 463 yards rushing and seven scores.
Lopez entered the portal this spring and quickly found a home in Chapel Hill. He beat out veteran Max Johnson, who was recovering from a broken leg suffered in UNC’s opener at Minnesota last year.
Belichick said he expects Johnson and freshman Bryce Baker to be ready to play, despite naming Lopez the starter.
Lopez said he learned of the starting nod just minutes before Belichick announced it publicly, saying it was a surreal moment.
“He told me I looked good during fall camp and that I was going to take the reins of the offense,” Lopez said. “I was talking to my dad like, ‘Man, I’m going to be Coach Belichick’s first starting quarterback in college.'”
Receiver Jordan Shipp said Lopez had already endeared himself to teammates and, thanks to his improvisational style, had earned the nickname “Magic Johnson.”
“He makes every play, makes every throw no matter where,” Shipp said. “Having a quarterback like that is a big opportunity for big plays. He gets out of the pocket, and I know he has trust in me.”
UNC hosts TCU on Monday in Belichick’s college debut, and while he said the experience won’t be markedly different from his time in the NFL, there will almost certainly be some surprises as he gets to see his team in real game action.
“There are some things you kind of feel good about and some questions about,” Belichick said, “and as things unfold, you find out how good you feel about the things you felt good about and the things you were worried about. It’s not always the same. When you practice against yourself, or even preseason games in the NFL, it’s low-level. When you get ready to play a game, nothing’s held back. They game-plan you and try to exploit your weaknesses and attack you where they feel like they can cause you problems.”
North Carolina has turned over a sizable portion of its roster from last season, bringing in more than 70 new faces, including 30 transfers following spring ball.
Belichick said that he has been comfortable with what he has seen from his team in most areas throughout fall camp but that he expects adjustments will be needed in the coming weeks.
“By the time you get to that third or fourth week, you’re exposed one way or another,” Belichick said. “What it looks like against another team that plays differently than you do, which TCU does, our evaluation against TCU and how we play against ourselves could be very different.”
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