The Baltimore Orioles finally got their long-coveted ace this offseason, when they traded two prospects plus a high compensatory draft pick to the Milwaukee Brewers for Corbin Burnes.
Burnes, as you probably remember, won the 2021 NL Cy Young and there is a big case to be made he also deserved it in 2020.
Since developing and mastering his cutter during the pandemic, Burnes has blossomed into one of the top pitchers in baseball.
The O’s, who were already one of the best teams in MLB and won 101 games last year, now look like serious World Series contenders with Burnes in the fold.
Orioles fans have been craving Burnes-related content since the outset of spring training, and the organization delivered:
We heard y’all wanted some Corbin content. pic.twitter.com/QMXs8HHdAW
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) February 15, 2024
In the middle of some tension between himself and the Brewers regarding his 2023 salary and his future with the team, Burnes was able to post a 3.39 ERA in 193.2 innings last year, striking out 200 hitters in the process.
The injury to Kyle Bradish certainly weakens the Orioles rotation, but a healthy Burnes will give it a high floor and a significant ceiling, too.
You can argue that the O’s losing in the first round of the 2023 postseason after winning 101 games had a lot to do with the fact they didn’t have a pitcher of Burnes’ caliber.
Now they do, and he will be highly motivated, too: he is playing for his next contract.
Baltimore seems to be on the verge of making a special run, and Burnes could very well be a big part of it.
The post Orioles Give Fans A Glimpse At Their New Ace appeared first on The Cold Wire.