Orioles Acquire Former Cy Young Winner Corbin Burnes in Bold Trade
In a stunning move, the Baltimore Orioles secured former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Orioles, coming off a remarkable 101-win season, add a seasoned frontline starter to their roster. In exchange, the Brewers receive a Top 100 prospect, a promising pitcher, and a 2024 Draft pick for Burnes, who is entering the final year of his current contract.
Trade Details:
- Orioles receive: RHP Corbin Burnes
- Brewers receive: SS Joey Ortiz (MLB Pipeline’s No. 63 prospect), LHP DL Hall, 2024 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick
Analysis: Why it makes sense for the Orioles
Baltimore aimed to strengthen its rotation for the upcoming season, and Burnes perfectly fits the bill as a proven ace. With a solid foundation in young talents like Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer, adding Burnes enhances their pitching prowess. Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, boasts impressive statistics, averaging 188 innings and 206 strikeouts per season over the past three years. This acquisition positions the Orioles to make a deeper postseason run, addressing the need for a true No. 1 starter.
Joey Ortiz, blocked in the Orioles’ middle-infield-loaded farm system, and DL Hall, yet to establish himself as a big-league starter, were expendable assets. The Orioles, retaining five of baseball’s top 32 prospects, strategically leveraged their surplus to bolster their rotation and fortify their contention ambitions.