The Baltimore Orioles now have Corbin Burnes on their pitching staff, and the New York Yankees manager has some opinions.
The Baltimore Orioles did not make a trade for Corbin Burnes to grab everyone’s attention. However, there is a clear benefit.
Consider the New York Yankees, who plan to pursue the Orioles when they defend their American League East title in 2024. The Yankees have added Marcus Stroman to their pitching staff, added some bullpen arms, and strengthened their outfield with trades for Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham.
The Yankees failed to win at least 90 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Things had to change for manager Aaron Boone and his club. However, this does not imply that the rest of the division has stayed unchanged.
The Orioles’ transaction for Burnes drew widespread attention. In 2023, he finished 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts and had the NL’s top WHIP of 1.069.
The agreement brings a former Cy Young champion to Baltimore, allowing him to anchor a rotation that includes some of the game’s greatest young guns.
Kyle Bradish, who finished in the top five in Cy Young voting last season, might also be included in the rotation, along with Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells.
Boone made his first public comments about the move on Saturday. What are his thoughts?
“That could be a bit of a problem,” Boone told MLB.com Saturday.
The Orioles won 101 games last year without Burnes. With him? Yes, the Orioles could be a “bit of a problem,” as Boone suggested.
The Yankees do have a strong rotation, with current AL Cy Young champion Gerrit Cole as the ace. Along with Stroman, the Yankees expect to have Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt in their rotation.
The Orioles have raised the stakes, something Boone and the Yankees are well aware of.
