ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays now carry as many members of the 2023 Baltimore Orioles as the Orioles themselves do, a pipeline of former teammates reuniting in the AL East as the Rays push toward October with the American League’s best record at 74-49.
Right-hander Bryan Baker, 31, started the trend when he was traded from Baltimore last July 10. Outfielder Cedric Mullins signed a one-year, $7 million deal this past offseason. Right-hander Tyler Wells, 31, arrived via trade Aug. 3, and infielder Jorge Mateo signed Thursday after being released by the Braves four days earlier. Former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde now serves as a senior advisor in Tampa Bay’s baseball operations department.
“Walking into the clubhouse [Friday afternoon], a couple of the guys were like, ‘Man, we’ve just got Orioles 2.0 over here right now,’” Baker said.
The four Rays — Baker, Mullins, Wells and Mateo — match Baltimore’s own count of holdovers from that 101-61 squad that won the franchise’s first AL East title since 2014 and its first postseason berth since 2016. The Orioles currently retain right-handers Kyle Bradish and Yennier Cano, outfielder Colton Cowser and shortstop Gunnar Henderson from that roster.
“That is kind of crazy,” Mullins said. “I think about that [2023 Orioles] team, I think about, obviously, what could have been. Obviously, the business side has its place in the game, a strong place in the game. We always have our dreams about being together for as long as possible. But things happen. It’s funny how the stars have aligned to have guys get picked up, including myself, and being down here.”
Baltimore’s trajectory explains the exodus. After going 91-71 and earning a Wild Card berth in 2024, the Orioles slumped to 75-87 and a last-place AL East finish in 2025. They sit at 61-63 this season and operated as sellers at the Trade Deadline. Wells spent Deadline day with Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers, expecting Rogers to be the one moved. Instead, Wells was dealt to Tampa Bay.
“Baltimore, obviously, is always going to hold a special place in my heart,” Wells said. “Been with them through some pretty significant moments through the last six years. To be able to come back and play them [this weekend] is a little weird in that sense, to be on the other side of some of the lifelong friends that I’ve created over there.”
Mateo, who joined the club most recently, said the familiar faces eased the transition. “It’s a good thing. It makes things comfortable,” Mateo said via an interpreter. “I’ve also played in this division, so I’ve seen a lot of the same faces here. It’s just a comfortable feeling.”
Mullins sees parallels between the 2023 Orioles and the current Rays squad. “I’d say winning close games was something that we did really well in ‘23,” Mullins said. “I think we’re copying that here, as well. When you’re able to pull out those close games and then have ones where you just kind of dominate, those wins add up. So that’s what we’re continuing to do.”
Baltimore won each of the first three games of the four-game divisional series over the weekend at Tropicana Field. The clubs conclude the set Monday night in St. Petersburg.