In a significant move following recent reports of a franchise sale, the Baltimore Orioles have pulled off a major trade by acquiring former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.
This trade marks a monumental step for the Orioles, who are coming off an impressive 101-win season, with Burnes now being the frontline starter that the team has been in desperate need of. Burnes boasts an impressive track record, with a 2.94 ERA in 93 starts over the past three years and clinching the prestigious 2021 NL Cy Young award.
As part of the deal, Milwaukee received pitcher DL Hall, shortstop Joey Ortiz, and a 2024 competitive balance pick. The 29-year-old Burnes is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, and while it might have previously been assumed that he would be an automatic rental for Baltimore, fans are now hopeful that the new ownership group might be more willing to open their pursestrings, especially after decades under the Angelos family’s management.
Over the past three years, Burnes has notched an impressive 677 strikeouts, ranking second only to the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole in that timeframe. The impact of this trade extends beyond the player dynamics, as Burnes becomes the immediate ace of the Baltimore rotation. This rotation is anticipated to include other notable pitchers like Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, and Dean Kremer.
Bradish delivered a stellar performance in his second year in 2023, posting a remarkable 2.83 ERA in 30 starts and finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting. Rodriguez, a highly regarded prospect, made 23 starts as a rookie in the previous season, showcasing significant improvement with a 2.58 ERA in 13 starts during the second half, following a less impressive 7.35 mark in his initial 10 career outings. Means, an All-Star in 2019, faced setbacks with injuries, undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing most of the past two seasons; however, he made a late return in 2023.
The departure of Burnes from the Brewers was acknowledged by their General Manager, Matt Arnold, who expressed gratitude for Burnes’ significant contributions to the organization’s recent successes. Burnes leaves a lasting legacy in Milwaukee, having won the prestigious 2021 NL Cy Young award.
The trade involved parting ways with promising talents from the Orioles’ side. DL Hall, the Orioles’ first-round pick in 2017, made his debut in 2022 and contributed to 18 bullpen appearances for Baltimore in 2023. As a left-handed pitcher, Hall had been among the top prospects in the Orioles’ system since joining the organization.
In addition, the Brewers gained Joey Ortiz, a 25-year-old infielder who made his big-league debut in 2023, playing 15 games for the Orioles down the stretch. Ortiz is known for his versatility, capable of playing second base, shortstop, and third. Prior to his promotion, he demonstrated his offensive prowess by hitting .321 in 88 Class AAA games in 2022, accompanied by 19 home runs and 85 RBIs across two levels.
This trade not only reshapes the dynamics of both teams but also sparks anticipation and curiosity about the future direction of the Orioles under new ownership and the impact of Burnes on their quest for continued success in the MLB.