*Photo from WBAL TV*
This is the big move we were waiting for. The Baltimore Orioles have acquired RHP Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for INF Joey Ortiz, LHP DL Hall, and a 2024 compensation round A draft pick, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The trade has been confirmed.
Milwaukee GM Matt Arnold said of Burnes that "I think we're going to potentially go through some ups and downs with young pitchers. I think that's just the course of how it goes with young arms. But Corbin was nothing but a warrior for us. He was tremendous in every way, pitched in huge games for us, always took the ball and was just a winner. I’m thrilled for him and his opportunity going forward and also very excited about the players we're getting back here, as well."
The acquisition of Burnes gives the Orioles the top of the rotation arm they had been seeking all offseason, and it didn't cost a lot of their top ranked farm system to make it happen. Burnes is due $15.6 million this season and is scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season.
Last season, Burnes was his usual productive self for the Brewers. Making his 3rd straight All Star game, he had a 3.39 ERA, 3.81 FIP, and 1.069 WHIP, tossing 193 2/3 innings and making 32 starts. He allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and two walks in 4 innings pitched in his one playoff start in 2023.
Burnes has finished in the top 8 of voting for NL Cy Young in each of the last 4 seasons, and his 17.3 fWAR in that span is the second best among starting pitchers. He has the 4th lowest ERA among starters in the last 4 seasons and has been an All Star for 3 straight years. In 2021, he won both the NL ERA title and Cy Young.
The Brewers got a pair of top 10 prospects from the Orioles farm system in return, giving them 7 prospects in baseball's top 100, the most in the majors. Hall was the 5th ranked Orioles prospect before graduating from prospect status, while Ortiz was ranked 6th in the Orioles system before the deal.
Hall, who the Brewers see as a starting pitcher going forward, is one piece of the return to Milwaukee. In his second season of major league experience in 2023, he had a 3.26 ERA, 3.00 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP, throwing 19 1/3 innings over 18 appearances, all coming out of the bullpen.
Ortiz made his major league debut last season, getting 34 plate appearances in the majors. He had one double and 7 total hits, driving in 4 runs in 15 games. With Triple A Norfolk, he slashed .321/.378/.507 with 9 home runs, 30 doubles, and 58 RBI's in 88 games.
Arnold said of the trade that "I think the overarching theme here is that we're excited about the players we're getting back. And the reality of our situation is that we had one year left with Corbin. I think Corbin had been pretty public about how this was going to be his last year as a Brewer. And so we felt like the opportunity to help our team right now with players like DL Hall, who was outstanding in the playoffs last year for the Orioles, is very young and Major League ready; Joey Ortiz, who we liked a lot; and a late first-round pick is a very well-balanced and exciting deal for us."
Burnes immediately vaults to the top of the Orioles rotation alongside other starters Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, John Means, and Dean Kremer. Hall projects to start the year in the Brewers rotation, while Ortiz figures to see time all over the infield, as he can play 3rd, second, and shortstop.
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