The Baltimore Orioles have acquired former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, the teams announced Thursday, giving up infielder Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall and the 34th pick in the 2024 draft in a deal between the two governing bodies. Winners.
Although Milwaukee has made trade offers to Barnes all winter, the shrinking time until spring training has convinced some teams that the Brewers will keep the 2021 National League Cy Young winner. The Orioles thrived after winning 101 games last year and had the best young center in the major leagues, but there were questions about their rotation.
Landing burns will help them relax. The 29-year-old, who hits free agency after the 2024 season, went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 193⅔ innings last year as the Brewers ran away with the NL Central title.
The year before, Burns led the NL with 243 strikeouts in 202 innings. And in 2021, he struck out 234 with just 34 walks in 167 innings, posting a 2.43 ERA.
He joins a Baltimore rotation that featured Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez — who had the second-best and third-best ERAs, respectively, among American League pitchers in the second half — as well as Dean Creamer, Tyler Wells and John Means.
Despite being the favorite in the Central, Milwaukee chose to move Barnes instead of dealing him at the trade deadline or losing him in free agency.
“Corbin has been a tremendous part of our recent successful seasons and we appreciate everything he has contributed to the organization over the years,” Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold said. “We wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
Milwaukee will drop Burns' $15.6 million salary and carry an Opening Day payroll estimated at $92 million by Baseball Prospectus. The Orioles owner, John Angelos, agreed earlier this week to sell the team to billionaire David Rubenstein for about $90 million. Seven other major league teams have $100 million in opening day payroll.
Ortiz, 25, could start in the Brewers' infield this season — and, along with his natural shortstop, is slated to take over in 2025 if incumbent Willie Adams leaves in free agency. Along with the infield glut in Baltimore — it includes Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias and Jackson Holiday, Kobe Mayo and Connor Norby.
In 34 plate appearances last year with the Orioles, Ortiz hit .212/.206/.242 while playing second base, third base and shortstop. Since Baltimore selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, Ortiz has developed into a dangerous hitter, slashing .321/.378/.507 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs in 389 Triple-A plate appearances last season.
Although Hall worked as a reliever for parts of two major league seasons, he spent most of his minor league career as a starter. In 2022, he put up wild strikeout numbers across three positions — 137 punchouts in 84⅓ innings — and in 33 big league innings, he struck out 42, walked 11 and allowed two home runs.
Hall could join a Brewers rotation that is missing Burns and two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff, who was non-tendered following shoulder surgery. Freddy Peralta is expected to get the opening day start for Milwaukee, while left-hander Wade Miley and right-hander Colin Rea are expected to return from last season.
“The Brewers are getting two talented young big league-ready players and a valuable 2024 draft pick,” Arnold said. “We look forward to both DL and Joey making an impact in our 2024 season and beyond.”
Milwaukee recently signed first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a two-year contract to opt out after the first season, and also signed center fielder Jackson Saurio — the No. 2 prospect in baseball behind Holiday, according to ESPN's Kyle McDaniel –. The eight-year, $82 million contract is before his big league debut this winter and should begin the season in Milwaukee.
The Brewers, who have had successful draft picks in recent years and will receive a compensatory pick from Baltimore with a slot value of about $2.5 million, have been working long enough to keep the future in mind as much as the present, helping them secure a fifth-place postseason berth. Last six years. Their biggest deal in recent years was the controversial move that sent All-Star Josh Hader to San Diego at the 2022 trade deadline. The Brewers then signed Ruiz to acquire All-Star catcher William Contreras, and Gasser could fill the spot in the rotation vacated by Burns.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
