The Baltimore Orioles acquired starting pitcher Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, which received DL Hall and Joey Ortiz in return.
Burnes won the 2021 National League Cy Young Award after posting an 11-5 record with an MLB-leading 2.43 earned run average. He struck out 234 batters and surrendered only 34 walks in 167 innings. Burnes won in the second year he received votes for the prestigious award. In addition to the Cy Young, he was an All-MLB First Team member and an All-Star in the same year.
Orioles reportedly acquire RHP Corbin Burnes from Brewers, per @MLBNetwork Insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/am9VJwb7v2
— MLB (@MLB) February 2, 2024
Last season, Burnes went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA for the Brewers, striking out 200 batters in 193.2 innings. He also led the National League in WHIP at 1.069. The year before, he led the NL with 243 strikeouts.
The Orioles are getting a solid starter at the peak of his career. Getting Burnes also adds to the positive changes in the franchise. Aside from having new majority owners, the Orioles signed Rhys Hoskins to a two-year, $34 million contract. Baltimore added relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel and could call up Jackson Holliday.
Burnes will join a starting rotation with Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez. But despite the trade, the Orioles might not have Burnes beyond 2024. He signed a one-year, $15.6 million contract before the trade to avoid arbitration, making him a free agent in 2025. His value will depend on how his 2024 campaign will pan out.
Adding Burnes, Hoskins, and other players makes the Orioles one of the American League’s top contenders a year after winning 101 games.
-Lance Fernandez
