Orioles GM Reveals What Burnes Trade Is Really About
Less than a day after the Baltimore Orioles upended the offseason by executing a trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes, general manager Mike Elias talked with the media about the deal.
The Orioles’ offseason, up until the deal was marked by one major free-agent signing, which was closer Craig Kimbrel. All five of the Orioles’ major free agents all signed with other teams.
Acquiring Burnes required the Orioles to give up assets. The Orioles gave up pitcher DL Hall and infielder Joey Ortiz, along with their Competitive Balance A Round One pick in next July’s MLB Draft.
The Orioles have gotten high marks for the deal, both in acquiring Burnes and the price they paid. But, Elias knows that he and the Orioles only have him for one season. Burnes, after making nearly $16 million this season, will be a free agent after the season. He could go anywhere.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said he sensed the excitement in Burnes’ voice after the deal was made. The former Cy Young winner is ready and both sides know what this deal is about — now.
"I can tell he’s very excited, and he knows that we have a chance to do something special here in 2024,” Elias said. “And ultimately, this trade was about 2024."
The Orioles are coming off a 101-win season in which they won the American League East and were the No. 1 seed in the AL playoffs. The Orioles feel like they have unfinished business, as they lost to the Texas Rangers in a three-game sweep in the AL Division Series.
The Rangers went on to win the World Series. The Orioles had to watch.
Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez recently said his goal is for the Orioles to win 102 games in 2024. He’s now part of a rotation that is anchored by Burnes — at least for this season.
Burnes has won at least 10 games each of his last three seasons and in 2021 he had an MLB-low 2.43 ERA. In 2023 he went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts and had an NL-best WHIP of 1.069. He also won the 2021 Cy Young award.
