The Marlins announced that right-hander Mike Baumann has been claimed off waivers. The Angels designated Baumann for assignment earlier this week.
The claim puts Baumann in position for a unique piece of baseball history, as he could join Oliver Drake as the only players to ever play for five different teams over the course of a single season. Baumann has a 5.24 ERA over 44 2/3 innings split over stints with the Angels (9 1/3 IP), Giants (two-thirds of an inning), Mariners (16 1/3 IP), and Orioles (18 1/3 IP), and just one appearance with Miami would allow Baumann to get a piece of Drake’s record.
A third-round pick for the Orioles in the 2017 draft, Baumann had spent his entire career in Baltimore’s organization before he was designated for assignment in May, thus sparking his busy summer of transactions. This is the first time Baumann has left DFA limbo via waiver claim this season, as his first three designations were resolved by trades. Baumann is out of minor league options, which is why he has been perpetually DFA’ed rather than simply optioned to the minors.
Baumann is a hard thrower with mid-90s velocity, and he had a 3.46 ERA over 64 2/3 relief innings for the Orioles in 2023. Between this resume and some good minor league numbers (including high strikeout totals), it’s easy to see why various teams have had interest in Baumann, even if he has struggled since leaving Baltimore. The Marlins are both rebuilding and have been hit hard by pitching injuries this season, so Baumann should have a decent chance at getting some innings and perhaps finally staying put on a roster.
This would be his fifth team in one year?! I guess Baumann is always available…
Matching Oliver Drake with his 5th team of the season….
Passed around like a blunt.
And just like a blunt, get hits hard
Trying to acquire as many ex-Orioles players as possible it seems.
Baumann is actually in a position to set the record if the Marlins dump him after a few outings
Journeymann
Love the Drake!
I’m looking forward to meeting the Drakette.
Great future trivia question.
drake played for the angels in his 5-team season, too. and both guys came up with baltimore
Yankees next for the record sixth!
Is it bad to hope that he gets dfa’d by the Marlins after a couple of appearances and hope that someone else picks him up and throws him in at least one game before the end of the season?
The ironic thing about Baumann is that none of the teams that DFA’d him wanted to lose him. The Orioles definitely liked him but they were facing a roster crunch when Grayson Rodriguez came off the IL in May. At the time the Orioles hoped he would clear waivers and they could outright him to Norfolk. But they admitted back then they didn’t think he would clear waivers. The other 3 teams were probably hoping the same thing. Guess the DFA wheel stops in Miami since the Marlins have nothing to play for.
@geotheo pretty the much the same with the angels plus most of the pen are free agents. Wouldn’t surprise me if the marlins cut him loose.
We are having tryouts this season on the mound. I wonder if we are nearing a record for different starters starting a game.