Brewers deal Corbin Burnes, a previous Cy Young winner, to the Orioles

Corbin Burnes, a three-time All-Star and former NL Cy Young award winner, is set to leave the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles officially confirmed the news on Thursday night, putting an end to the offseason speculation about Burnes’ potential departure in 2024.

In exchange for Burnes, the Brewers will receive shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-handed pitcher D.L. Hall from the Orioles. Ortiz, ranked as the 63rd prospect in baseball by MLB.com, was the No. 6-rated prospect in the Orioles’ system. Hall, a former first-round pick in 2021, brings nine games of MLB experience to Milwaukee. Additionally, the Brewers will acquire a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (34th) in the upcoming MLB draft.

This trade comes on the heels of the reported sale of the Orioles franchise, with the Angelos family agreeing to sell the team to a group led by billionaires David Rubenstein and Mike Arougheti, both private equity investors. The Angelos family had owned the Orioles since 1993.

Corbin Burnes’ departure marks the end of an era in Milwaukee, where he spent his entire six-season MLB career. During his tenure with the Brewers, the team made a return to the postseason in his rookie season after a six-year absence and reached the playoffs in five of his six seasons.

Burnes, a standout pitcher, emerged as the team’s ace, culminating in winning the NL Cy Young award in 2021 with a league-best 2.43 ERA. He continued to excel, leading the league in strikeouts in 2022 and consistently ranking in the top 10 in Cy Young voting. Burnes, known for his signature cutter and a diverse five-pitch arsenal, finished the 2023 season with a 3.39 ERA and an MLB-best 1.069 WHIP, amassing 200 strikeouts and 66 walks in 193 2/3 innings pitched.

At 29 years old, Burnes brings valuable experience and a formidable skill set to the Orioles, potentially anchoring their rotation as they aim to contend in the upcoming seasons.

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The trade of Corbin Burnes from Milwaukee comes on the heels of the unexpected departure of manager Craig Counsell to the rival Chicago Cubs in November. Both Burnes and Counsell played crucial roles in Milwaukee’s consistent postseason appearances, although the team faced repeated disappointment with only one trip to the NLCS and none to the World Series. The Brewers experienced a disheartening sweep in the 2023 wild-card round against the eventual NL champions, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Despite the setback, the Brewers indicated their commitment to remaining competitive by signing first baseman Rhys Hoskins in January. However, the looming reality of Burnes entering his final season of arbitration eligibility, with free agency awaiting him after 2024, prompted the Brewers to make the strategic decision to trade their star pitcher. With no long-term contract in place, Milwaukee chose not to risk losing Burnes for nothing in return during the upcoming offseason.