Orioles Acquire Cy Young Winner Corbin Burnes from Brewers in Trade for Two Young Players

Oh boy, the Baltimore Orioles just made a splash. They’ve snagged right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers. Yup, you heard it right. This deal was sealed and delivered Thursday night.

Now, who’s heading the other way? Shortstop Joey Ortiz and lefty D.L. Hall are packing their bags for Milwaukee. Oh, and there’s also the 34th pick in the 2024 draft. That’s a little cherry on top, part of Competitive Balance Round A.

Burnes, 29, isn’t just any pitcher. He’s under team control until after the 2024 season. There’s been chatter about him testing free agency rather than sticking with the Brewers. Can you blame him? The guy’s a three-time All-Star and snagged the 2021 NL Cy Young. Not to mention, he was a top contender in the Cy Young race in the following years.

In 2023, Burnes had 32 starts, boasting a 10-8 record. His ERA? A cool 3.39. And let’s not overlook his 1.07 WHIP. The man struck out 200 batters over 193 2/3 innings. Talk about firepower.

So, what’s this mean for the Orioles? Burnes is now the cream of the crop in their rotation. Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodríguez? They’ve shown promise. And John Means? The guy’s a comeback kid post-Tommy John surgery. This quartet could be something special.

On the flip side, the Brewers are waving goodbye to their ace duo. Burnes and Brandon Woodruff are out. Freddy Peralta’s stepping up as the new ace, with veteran Wade Miley and Colin Rea trying to fill those big shoes.

But wait, there’s more on Ortiz. The guy barely made a dent in the majors last season. Just 15 games. His batting average? A modest .212. But Triple-A tells a different story. The man hit .321 with some impressive stats to boot. R.J. Anderson thinks a change of scenery might just be what the doctor ordered.

And D.L. Hall? The 25-year-old has potential. With a 4.36 ERA and 42 strikeouts in the majors, he’s shown glimpses of what he can do. The Brewers might just give him a shot in the rotation.

Here’s the kicker. The Orioles are beefing up their rotation right after the Angelos family decided to sell the team. Fresh off a 101-win season, things are looking up in Baltimore.

Meanwhile, the Brewers, even after clinching the NL Central with 92 wins, have their work cut out. They’ve lost Burnes and Woodruff but signed Rhys Hoskins. It’s a mixed bag, but only time will tell how this all pans out.