May 13, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) throws a second inning pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
In February, the Baltimore Orioles made a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for ace Corbin Burnes. Let’s take a look at how the trade has played out for both sides. On February 1, the Orioles and Brewers announced a trade that sent shockwaves throughout Major League Baseball. Burnes, the 2021 Cy Young Award winner, was acquired by the Orioles in exchange for only two rookies, DL Hall and Joey Ortiz. The youthful, up-and-coming Orioles now had a star pitcher to lead their rotation, and the price barely made a dent in their deep farm system. This positioned the Orioles as strong World Series contenders in 2024. The Brewers didn’t want to have to pay Burnes, who is a free agency following the 2024 season.
Breaking Down the Corbin Burnes Trade
The Orioles Have Their Ace
After the Orioles’ disappointing playoff performance in 2023, it was clear a change to the rotation had to be made. In Games 2 and 3 of last year’s ALDS against the Texas Rangers, the Orioles pitching staff game up 18 runs combined. This offseason, the Orioles front office worked tirelessly for an upgrade to their pitching staff, until they got their guy: Corbin Burnes.
Burnes immediately slotted in as the number 1 guy for the Orioles, and he has been almost better than advertised. Amazingly, Burnes has not allowed more than 3 runs in any of his first 10 starts with the Orioles.
Burnes won the game against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday after pitching six innings and striking out 11. These remarkable performances had become the standard for Brewers supporters, and now Orioles fans appreciate Burnes’ exceptional pitching. Burnes’ 2.56 ERA places him in the top tier of MLB pitchers, which was exactly what the Orioles needed. Burnes’ ERA is low, but his fWAR is already an impressive 1.4, and his strikeouts per nine innings are just under 10. The Orioles’ pitching staff has been in upheaval, and it is now moving to a six-man rotation. However, the Orioles may be certain that Burnes will continue at the top of the rotation, putting up Cy Young-worthy numbers.
The Brewers Youth Movement
Despite trading a franchise great in Corbin Burnes, the Brewers received two highly acclaimed components in return and were able to continue with their youth movement, which was powered by an underdog attitude.
