Remember when the Baltimore Orioles were such a joke that playing for that franchise was considered a punishment?
Yeah, those days are over. Nowadays, MLB stars actually look forward to playing for the Orioles.
Former Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes just signed a one-year deal with Baltimore. This guy is no slouch, he won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021, has earned three All-Star nods, and was the ace of Milwaukee’s rotation for the past several years.
Sep 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
In exchange for their former ace, Milwaukee received Baltimore’s No. 5 and No. 6 minor league prospects (Joey Ortiz and DL Hall, respectively) and a draft pick.
He had one year left in Milwaukee before becoming a free agent, so the Brewers wanted something in return for him. The move came as a surprise to Burnes, who said he only got a 30-minute heads up before the trade went public.
But he’s still stoked about the new opportunity.
“It’s an exciting new ball club, I’m looking forward to getting going,” Burnes said.
An “exciting new ball club?” When was the last time anyone used that phrase to describe the Orioles?
While that’s not a common phrase used to describe Baltimore, Burnes is right in that they’re trending in the right direction. Last year, the Orioles won 101 games and earned the top seed in the American League playoffs. Sure, they got swept in the ALDS, but that’s not how most years go for the Orioles. With a roster brimming with young talent and a vibrant farm system (not to mention a CY Young-pitcher), the future looks bright for Baltimore.
Burnes’ excitement at joining the new club carried over into his first bullpen session with the Orioles.
“(I was) definitely lighting the radar gun up a little bit,” Burnes said. “I’m ahead of where I’m usually at at this point in this offseason.”
I’m sure with the addition of Burnes, the Orioles will light up the rest of the MLB once the season begins in late March.
