Source: Pirates Trading Rule 5 Pick Carter Baumler to Rangers
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler from the Baltimore Orioles with the fifth pick in the 2025 draft and are trading him to the Texas Rangers, a source told Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
In return, the Pirates are receiving minor-league right-handed pitcher Jaiker Garcia and cash considerations.
Garcia, who began his career as an infielder, made 18 appearances in the Arizona Complex League last season and went 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA, two saves, 14 walks and 26 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. The soon-to-be 21-year-old has a 0.77 ERA in 11 relief appearances in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Baumler, who turns 24 years old next month, went 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA and pair of saves across three levels (the highest of which was Double-A) in 2025. In 39.2 innings, he allowed 25 hits, walked 18 and struck out 46.
A fifth-round pick of the Orioles out of high school in the 2020 draft who signed an over-slot deal for $1.5 million, Baumler is 7-1 with a 3.05 ERA across 49 appearances/10 starts. He’s totaled 88.2 innings with 104 strikeouts and 40 walks.
Rule 5 Draft picks go directly on a team’s active roster and must remain there for the entire season (unless injured) or else be offered back to the original organization.
More about: Pirates Transactions
It seemed weird the Bucs in year 7 of a rebuild would take a Rule 5 guy to begin with. Was this arranged between Texas and Pittsburgh before the draft?
Now THIS is the Pirates move we all know. SMH.
…why even bother to make that deal?…..