MLB Insider Names Orioles Among Teams with Best Offseason
The Baltimore Orioles entered the offseason with one clear need and found exactly that.
Making a move for an ace-caliber pitcher was a necessity, although it didn't look likely that the Orioles would land one until they traded for Corbin Burnes.
Frankly, it wouldn't have been crazy to say that the Orioles' offseason was a major disappointment until they made that trade. Instead, there's an argument to be made that they had one of the best offseasons in baseball.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today ranked Baltimore's offseason as the second best, ranking behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nightengale writes about the impressive acquisition of Burnes but also notes that preventing the New York Yankees from trading for him was another win.
Given what the Orioles moved for Burnes, it was a no-brainer. Infielder Joey Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall have potential and for a possible one-year rental, a decent return for the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, Baltimore kept its top prospects and have more ammuntion to complete another trade if it needs to during the season.
If the price was just Ortiz, Hall, and a draft pick, every team in baseball should've attempted to make this move for Burnes, a former Cy Young winner who becomes a free agent after this season.
After winning 101 games last season, the Orioles face pressure heading into 2024. The expectation is for this team to win and anything short of that will be looked at as a disappointment.
The championship window is open and while it opened quicker than the Orioles imagined, it's time to capitalize on it. General manager Mike Elias and the rest of the front office noticed that and landed one of the best pitchers in the game.
