Corbin Burnes was the top starting MLB pitcher on the free agent market this past offseason. The former Milwaukee Brewers starter ended up signing a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving the Baltimore Orioles after just one season. But a recent report from an MLB insider shed some light on the Orioles’ failed four-year offer for Burnes.
Baltimore Orioles Offered Corbin Burnes Lucrative Extension
Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reported that the Orioles offered Burnes a four-year, $180 million contract. That deal carried an average annual value (AAV) of $45 million, which is more than the Diamondbacks’ offer, which came in at $35 million per year. So why did Burnes take the Arizona deal if it was $10 million less per season?
There are two key reasons. First, Burnes gets two extra years of guaranteed money from Arizona, which is huge for a pitcher entering his age-30 season. With injury risks always present, that extra security matters. Second, Burnes reportedly wanted to play closer to home.
Still, Orioles fans can take some comfort in knowing the team made a real push to bring Burnes back. Throughout the offseason, it felt like Baltimore wasn’t even in the running, with the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox listed among the top suitors.
This report shows that the Orioles were serious, and that could signal that the front office is still committed to improving the rotation, despite a quiet winter.
What’s Next for the Orioles?
The Orioles remain a World Series contender, but replacing Burnes with 41-year-old Charlie Morton is a tough sell. Meanwhile, Zach Eflin has been placed on the injured list for a week with a lat strain. And with Grayson Rodriguez out due to elbow inflammation, Baltimore’s rotation lacks top-end talent.
But now that we know that the Orioles nearly re-signed Burnes, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them active at this year’s MLB trade deadline. For instance, a veteran starter like Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals makes sense.
St. Louis isn’t expected to make the playoffs, and Gray fits the mold; he is a right-handed pitcher with a strong track record.
A move like this could be key. Baltimore shouldn’t assume Rodriguez will return fully healthy, so adding a proven arm would be a smart step toward a deep postseason run.
Given the early injuries, the Orioles have had some setbacks to start the season. Nevertheless, they sit just two games behind the leading Blue Jays, in what is expected to be a tough AL East throughout the year.