The Milwaukee Brewers could be making more trades before the start of 2024 and starting pitcher Corbin Burnes has been on the trade block for quite some time. A team in the MLB that could use some starting pitching help to start the 2024 season is the Baltimore Orioles.
Baltimore finished with a 101-61 record last season and won the American League East division before flaming out to the Texas Rangers in the postseason. Burnes is entering the final year of his contract with the Brewers and is 29 years old. He pitched in 32 games last season for Milwaukee and had a 10-8 record with a 3.39 ERA. In 193.2 innings pitched, he gave up 141 hits and 77 runs, along with 66 walks and 200 strikeouts. His WHIP was 1.06.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com wrote about the Milwaukee Brewers possibly trading him at some point:
“Burnes is one year away from free agency, and given how much he figures to command on the open market next winter, most believe the Brewers will trade him this year, either before or during the season.”
A season ago, the Brewers won the National League Central with a 92-70 record before flaming out in the postseason against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card Round. Feinsand also mentioned about the Brewers hanging onto Burnes instead of trading him:
“Unless, of course, Milwaukee opts for the latter, then finds itself in the playoff race in July, making it far more difficult to deal its ace at that point in the season… Do they move Burnes now, when teams might be willing to pay more for a full year of his services (not to mention the opportunity to make him a qualifying offer), or play out the first half of the season and reassess the situation in July?”
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles Making a Trade Involving Corbin Burnes Would Make Sense For Both Parties
Baltimore has the best farm system in all of baseball and Milwaukee would be able to replenish it by trading away Corbin Burnes. The Orioles also need an ace in their rotation badly in order to compete for a World Series title, which is something they have not accomplished since 1983.
Some of the prospects the Baltimore Orioles can trade are #4 3B/1B Coby Mayo, #6 INF Joey Ortiz, and #10 RHP Chayce McDermott. Milwaukee can use some help in the in-field and they could use another pitcher in the farm system.
Mayo is 22 years old and had a .290 batting average last season with 29 home runs and 99 RBIs, along with five stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .410 and is projected to reach the majors in 2024. Coby Mayo is a tremendous hitter with an excellent eye at the plate.
Joey Ortiz played some games in the majors last season for Baltimore last season. He had a .212 batting average with zero home runs and four RBIs, along with a .206 on-base percentage.
When he was in Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Ortiz had a .321 batting average with nine home runs and 58 RBIs, along with 11 stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .378.
Chayce McDermott played in Double-A last season with the Bowie BaySox and also in Triple-A. Overall, he had an 8-8 record with a 3.10 ERA, in 26 games pitched. McDermott has pitched in 119.0 innings and 69 hits and 44 runs. He also walked 68 batters and struck out 152 batters. His WHIP was 1.15.
These could be some of the potential prospects that the Milwaukee Brewers could very well acquire for Corbin Burnes. Baltimore could give up more prospects in the trade or they could give up lower end prospects. It depends on what general manager Mike Elias of the Orioles and general manager Matt Arnold of the Brewers would want to do. This trade would benefit both parties in the end.
