Orioles Miss Out on Corbin Burnes for 2025

The baseball world got some big news just before the year ended. Corbin Burnes, the Orioles' top pitcher from 2024, will not be returning to the team in 2025. He signed a huge six-year $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This move doesn't come as a huge shock. The Orioles' general manager, Mike Elias, isn't known for spending big on free agents, especially pitchers. Even though Corbin Burnes could have greatly improved the team, he would have come at a high cost. The Diamondbacks were a surprise choice for Burnes. They weren't mentioned as a possible landing spot during the process. But last year, they spent a lot on two other starting pitchers, Eduardo Rodríguez and Jordan Montgomery. Burnes is a different level of player, though, and his contract shows that. The details of Burnes' new contract are not clear yet. We know he will make $35 million each year through 2030, and he can opt out after the 2026 season. If he pitches well, he might choose to leave the contract early. But that's something to watch for in the future.

The Orioles might have missed out on Burnes, but they still need help in their rotation. There are other pitchers they could look into, like Dylan Cease or Framber Valdez. Even the Diamondbacks might be willing to trade Jordan Montgomery for some salary relief, as he had a tough 2025 season. Some people think the Orioles might not even need to add another pitcher. They traded for Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers last summer, and both are under control for 2025. Eflin was great, and while Rogers struggled, he's young and under control for 2026 too. Plus, Kyle Bradish is expected to return late in the season, which could give the team another ace. While some might agree that the team is good enough as it is, others think they need another reliable starter for the playoffs. The general manager, Elias, has his own way of doing things. He's not likely to spend a lot on pitchers, so it was always unlikely that Burnes would return. A big trade might still happen, though.

Actions