This was not the kind of day that Bryan Baker expected to have. But baseball is a brutal world, and Baker just got a major taste of it. One moment, he was suiting up in the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse like usual. Next, he was told to pack his bags and head to Tampa.

Just hours before the first pitch on Thursday, the Baltimore Orioles pulled off a surprise move. It sent the 30-year-old reliever to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for the No. 37 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

It happened all so fast—it was difficult to fathom. Reports had just stepped into the clubhouse when Baker found out. One could see the emotion simply hit him as he tried to process it all. It’s been his home for four years; he would be shocked for sure. And he didn’t shy away from admitting it.

Bryan Baker mentioned that he was shocked, but he was grateful, “Shock for sure. It’s been everything. They gave me an opportunity to get established in the big leagues. Developing on the field and off the field. It’s been four of the best years of my life.” That’s the kind of goodbye that sticks with you. And honestly, Baker has earned his stripes with the Baltimore Orioles.

Sure, Bryan Baker was not the loudest name in the bullpen, but he always made sure that he got the job done. This season, he is sporting a 3.52 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 42 games. So, for sure, he has been reliable, trusted, and respected in the clubhouse. But baseball is also business. And given that the Tampa Bay Rays are fighting for a wild-card spot, they saw the value in Baker’s experience and control and invested.

He will now join the Rays in Boston for a weekend series, and well, ironically enough, he might face his old team right after the All-Star break. And as far as Orioles GM Mike Elias’ take on the deal goes, he says it was a tough but necessary call. “We’re proud of Bryan. He was a warrior for us. But the Rays made an aggressive offer, and we saw it as the right opportunity.” And Baker right now is excited to start a new chapter in Tampa and even appreciates their staff. As for the Orioles, they have moved on fast.

Baltimore Orioles fill Baker void with surprise call-up

After sending Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays in a surprise trade, the Baltimore Orioles had a spot to fill, and they didn’t wait long to do it. Coming right into the picture is none other than David Banuelos. The O’s called up the catcher from Triple-A Norfolk to fix the roster hole left behind by Baker. And this is a big moment for Banuelos, even if it might be a short tune.

This could be Banuelos’s only real shot at the big league club for now. Given how many catchers the team has on the mend, that is. And if you are wondering where you have heard his name before, it’s because he made his MLB debut early last season, but it was just one game. And since then, he has been busy grinding in the minors. There he played 363 games and put up a slash line of .210/.278/.346. Plus, alongside Banuelos, the Baltimore Orioles are also getting left-hander Grant Wolfram for Thursday’s game. So it’s been a full day of roster shuffling in Birdland.

Also, as far as the catcher position, this is where things get interesting. Baltimore has been hit hard, given that Adley Rutschman has been out since June 21 with an oblique strain. However, the good news is that he is expected to make it back after the All-Star break. Plus, there is also Gary Sanchez, who sprained his knee last month. And it looks like he will be out till September. Also, Chadwich Tromp has been on IL since July 1 because of back tightness, and Maverick Handley is also sidelined, and his timeline is up in the air. So given the factors, Banuelos will get his chance, but whether it will be brief or he will surprise everyone remains to be seen.

What do you think will happen?