The Baltimore Orioles have acquired catcher Jake Rogers from the Detroit Tigers in a trade announced on July 30, 2026.
Rogers was activated to play for the Orioles ahead of a key series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Camden Yards.
Baltimore is managing injuries in its catching corps, with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo sidelined. Rogers is expected to see significant playing time while they recover.
In exchange, the Orioles sent Double-A right-handed pitcher Zane Barnhart, a 24-year-old reliever, to Detroit.
Baltimore also took on the remainder of Rogers' $3 million salary for the 2026 season.
To make room on the active and 40-man roster, the Orioles designated catcher Chadwick Tromp for assignment.
Tromp, 31, has served as a defensive backup in Baltimore and Atlanta but struggled offensively this season with a .
163 batting average in 51 plate appearances. He can be traded before the August 1 trade deadline or placed on waivers.
Rogers Reflects on Detroit Departure
Rogers spent parts of six seasons with Detroit and served as their primary catcher in 2023 and 2024.
He was designated for assignment to clear roster space for Javier Báez's return from injury.
"I love Skoob to death," Rogers said, referring to pitcher Tarik Skubal.
"He made it known that he was going to miss me, and I made it known I was going to miss him.
It’s going to happen eventually. To happen the way it did was a little iffy.
It’s all a business and they had to do it."
Rogers and Skubal developed a strong rapport since meeting in 2020 at an alternate training site during the pandemic.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, was likely to be traded soon after Rogers' departure, as the Tigers continue to dismantle their roster amid a disappointing season.
"I feel like I’ve grown up with him. Met him for the first time at the alternate site.
We just had such a good relationship since then. Just a really good human and a hardworking human," Rogers added.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are pursuing a playoff spot, trailing the final Wild Card position by 2.5 games with three games remaining before the trade deadline.
Their bullpen ERA ranks 23rd in the majors, and the team faces the Phillies, who hold a 57-52 record and strong one-run game performance.
Rogers, originally drafted by the Houston Astros and acquired by Detroit in the 2017 trade for Justin Verlander, expressed optimism despite the business nature of baseball trades.
"Hey look, that team has been in that situation before," Rogers said of the Tigers.
"In ’24, we sold everybody and all of a sudden made an incredible run. Baseball is an incredible sport where anything can happen in any clubhouse.
Their expectations for this year – obviously the month of May they had was tough and put them in a hole they are now.
They know it’s a business, just like I did."
