Corbin Burnes’ Departure Required an Orioles Front-Office Response That Still Hasn’t Come

In Major League Baseball, few situations are as high-stakes or as defining for a franchise as the departure of a star player — particularly one of the caliber of Corbin Burnes. The departure of Burnes from the Baltimore Orioles, a team with high hopes for a competitive future, has raised significant questions. The front office, led by General Manager Mike Elias, had a critical decision to make. How would the Orioles respond to the loss of their ace, and what steps would they take to ensure that their pitching staff could continue to compete in the highly competitive American League East?

Unfortunately, as we enter the 2025 MLB season, the answer remains elusive. The Orioles have not yet made the necessary moves to fully address the void left by Burnes’ departure, and the front office’s inaction has left many fans and analysts wondering what comes next for this team. This article will take an in-depth look at the reasons for Burnes’ departure, the Orioles’ failure to replace him, and the implications for the team’s future. We will examine the broader picture of the team’s front-office strategy, their history of roster-building, and how they might still be able to address this glaring hole before it becomes a critical problem.

Corbin Burnes: A Force in Baltimore

Corbin Burnes arrived in Baltimore with high expectations. Acquired through trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, Burnes was immediately seen as the ace the Orioles so desperately needed. Burnes had been one of the top pitchers in the league during his time in Milwaukee, winning the Cy Young Award in 2021 and establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball with his devastating combination of fastball velocity, sharp curveball, and pinpoint control.

For the Orioles, Burnes’ addition was expected to solidify a pitching rotation that had often been a weak link in an otherwise promising young roster. The team had seen improvement offensively, with budding stars in the outfield and infield, but the pitching staff remained a question mark.

Burnes’ presence immediately brought stability to that rotation. He was everything the Orioles hoped for: durable, effective, and an automatic leader on the mound. The expectations were clear — Burnes would anchor a young but talented team and help lead them into postseason contention, bringing an edge to their pitching staff that could carry them deep into the playoffs.

But then, in a move that surprised many, Burnes found himself leaving Baltimore after just a few seasons, as the Orioles failed to make the moves necessary to retain him long-term. His departure was a blow to the team, one that has reverberated throughout the front office and the fanbase.

The Trade That Brought Burnes to Baltimore

Burnes’ journey to the Orioles was a carefully orchestrated move by the front office in hopes of stabilizing the team’s pitching staff. The Orioles traded for Burnes with high expectations, knowing full well that his addition would make them immediate contenders in the American League. The move was seen as a pivotal moment in the Orioles’ rebuild, as they had long struggled to develop or acquire reliable starting pitchers.

In a blockbuster deal with the Brewers, the Orioles sent several highly regarded prospects to Milwaukee in exchange for Burnes, making it clear that they were ready to contend. At the time, the trade made sense on paper. The Orioles were on the brink of contending, and adding a pitcher of Burnes’ caliber seemed like the missing piece.

Burnes quickly adapted to his new role in Baltimore, continuing his excellent performance on the mound. His leadership and production were exactly what the team needed to round out a promising squad, and expectations were high for the 2024 season as the Orioles made a push for the playoffs.

The Departure of Corbin Burnes

However, after two seasons of stellar pitching performances in Baltimore, Corbin Burnes shocked the baseball world by departing via free agency. While many factors played into this departure, there were two central issues that ultimately drove Burnes away from the Orioles.

1. Contract Negotiations and the Financial Factor

Burnes’ departure was largely a result of the Orioles’ inability to secure him to a long-term deal. Despite the team’s financial flexibility and willingness to spend, Burnes’ market value skyrocketed as his production continued to exceed expectations. As a result, the Orioles were caught in a tough position, where their ability to make a long-term commitment to Burnes conflicted with their larger financial strategy.

The front office, under Mike Elias, had always been cautious with spending — focusing on building a sustainable, long-term contender without overcommitting to free-agent deals. While this strategy had paid off in many respects, the inability to offer Burnes a deal that matched his market value and his personal ambitions was a significant setback. The Orioles reportedly offered him a competitive contract, but it fell short of what he could have received elsewhere, particularly from teams with more established playoff prospects and higher payroll flexibility.

2. A Desire for a Championship Opportunity

Another major factor in Burnes’ departure was his desire to compete for a World Series. Despite the Orioles’ growing potential, they were still in the midst of a rebuild and faced stiff competition in the American League East, one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Burnes, in the prime of his career, was not interested in waiting for the Orioles to fully mature into a championship-caliber team. Instead, he sought to join a more established contender that was poised to make deep playoff runs — something the Orioles were not quite ready for at the time.

Burnes ultimately signed with the New York Yankees, a team that not only offered a lucrative contract but also gave him the immediate opportunity to pitch for a team with a much clearer path to postseason success.

The Orioles’ Response: A Missed Opportunity

With Burnes’ departure, the Orioles front office was faced with an immediate challenge: How could they respond to the loss of their ace and continue to compete in the highly competitive AL East? The Orioles had already made significant strides in building a competitive team, but Burnes had been the anchor that allowed them to dream of contending for a World Series title in the near future. Without him, the team was at risk of losing some of its momentum.

1. The Lack of a Direct Replacement

Perhaps the most glaring issue with the Orioles’ response was their failure to sign a direct replacement for Burnes. While the front office did attempt to make moves to bolster the rotation by signing several pitchers on shorter deals or trading for some back-end arms, no one player was brought in who could take on the ace role and deliver at the level Burnes had.

In the wake of Burnes’ departure, the Orioles had some interesting options in their system, but none that could immediately step into the role of ace. Young pitchers like Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall had the potential to be stars, but neither had proven that they could consistently perform at the level Burnes had demonstrated in Baltimore. The Orioles’ lack of urgency in addressing this issue left them vulnerable as the season progressed, and their pitching staff remained inconsistent.

2. Focusing on Offense and the Rebuild

While the Orioles’ focus on building a strong lineup and bolstering their offense is understandable, especially given the offensive talent they had coming up through the ranks, their failure to prioritize pitching in the wake of Burnes’ departure was a strategic misstep. The front office’s decision to continue pushing forward with a collection of younger, unproven arms without adding a true frontline starter could have serious long-term consequences.

The team’s strength in recent years had been its offense, and while this remained a positive development, the Orioles were not going to be able to compete in a division with powerhouses like the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays without a consistent and effective pitching staff. By not aggressively pursuing a top-tier starting pitcher in the offseason, the Orioles missed a key opportunity to stabilize their rotation and stay competitive with the league’s best teams.

What’s Next for the Orioles?

As the 2025 season draws nearer, the Orioles’ front office is faced with a critical decision: What steps must they take to ensure that they are ready for postseason contention, especially after the loss of their ace, Corbin Burnes? While the team has a strong offensive lineup and a promising group of young pitchers, they still need a true ace to guide them into the future.

1. Looking to Trade for an Ace

One option the Orioles should consider is exploring trade opportunities for an established starting pitcher. While this path may be costly in terms of prospects, a trade for a proven ace could give the team the immediate impact pitcher they need to contend. Players such as Shane Bieber (Cleveland Guardians) or Lucas Giolito (Chicago White Sox) could be potential targets, as they are established veterans who could help stabilize the rotation.

2. Development of Young Talent

Alternatively, the Orioles could continue to focus on developing their young pitchers, such as Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall, and Kyle Bradish. These pitchers have shown flashes of brilliance and could emerge as key contributors for the Orioles in the coming seasons. However, this strategy will require time, and the team may not be able to compete at the highest level until these pitchers fully develop.

3. Free Agency and Future Investments

In addition to trades and player development, the Orioles could also look to free agency in future seasons to bolster their rotation. With a strong core of young players and a growing financial flexibility, the Orioles could be positioned to make a run at top-tier pitchers when the market is right.

Conclusion: A Defining Moment for the Orioles

The loss of Corbin Burnes represents a crossroads for the Baltimore Orioles and their front-office strategy. While they have made significant strides in rebuilding their team, they have yet to respond to Burnes’ departure in a way that secures their future as legitimate contenders. The failure to sign a replacement for their ace has left the team in a precarious position, but there is still time for the front office to address the issue.

The Orioles have the pieces to contend, but they need to act quickly to solidify their pitching staff. Whether through trade, free agency, or the continued development of their young arms, the Orioles’ response to this critical situation will shape the trajectory of the franchise for years to come. If they can find a way to fill the void left by Burnes, the Orioles still have the potential to rise to the top of the AL East. But until that happens, the team’s future remains uncertain.