Burnes’ Stellar Performance
Brandon Burnes, one of the top pitchers in the game, has been traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles. Burnes has consistently proven himself as a dominant force on the mound, boasting the lowest ERA (2.86) among pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched since 2020. His impressive 11.1 K/9 is the second-best mark in baseball. In addition, Burnes has been a strong contender for the NL Cy Young Award, finishing in the top eight for the past four seasons. He has also been named an All-Star for the last three seasons.
Boosting the Orioles’ Rotation
The acquisition of Burnes is a significant boost for the Orioles’ rotation, which struggled to make an impact last season. With a combined 4.11 ERA, the Orioles’ starters ranked 11th in the majors. However, promising pitcher Kyle Bradish showed immense improvement, lowering his ERA from 4.90 in his rookie season to an impressive 2.83 last season. Furthermore, John Means is set to return for a full season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Orioles’ success last year relied heavily on Adley Rutschman, who finished as the runner-up for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. They also have highly regarded prospect Jackson Holliday waiting in the wings, expected to take on the role of the team’s starting shortstop on Opening Day.
Trade Details
In exchange for Burnes, the Brewers will receive shortstop prospect Joey Ortiz, left-handed reliever D.L. Hall, and the 34th pick in this year’s MLB Draft. The trade has drawn attention as it follows the news of the Orioles’ ownership changing hands. John Angelos, the current owner, is selling the franchise for an estimated $1.725 billion to hedge fund owners David Rubenstein and Mike Arougheti. The deal is expected to close in the near future, with Rubenstein and Arougheti initially purchasing 40% of the franchise and eventually acquiring the remaining 60%.
Brewers’ Rotation Decisions
With the departure of Burnes, the Brewers have made notable rotation decisions this offseason. They also non-tendered Brandon Woodruff, a key pitcher for the team. Despite these moves, the Brewers still have reliable pitchers Freddy Peralta and Wade Miley leading their rotation. Additionally, they secured the services of slugger Rhys Hoskins with a two-year deal earlier in the offseason.
Overall, the trade between the Brewers and the Orioles has generated significant excitement and anticipation among baseball fans. It remains to be seen how Burnes will fare with his new team, while the Brewers continue to shape their rotation for the upcoming season.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.