Orioles Face Tough Battle to Retain Their Ace

The Baltimore Orioles  are facing a tough reality: they could lose  their ace, Corbin Burnes, to a rival team this offseason. After a disappointing postseason performance in 2024, the Orioles now find themselves in a precarious position, with their top pitcher potentially heading for free agency. Burnes, who joined the Orioles after a high-profile trade last year, is coming off a stellar 2024 season and is expected to be one of the most coveted players on the market. As the Orioles scramble to retain the 2021 NL Cy Young winner, the threat of Burnes leaving  for a competitive team looms large.

Orioles’ Struggles Despite Burnes’ Addition

Despite acquiring Burnes in a blockbuster trade last winter, the Orioles have yet to break their playoff win drought, which now stretches to 10 seasons. The addition of Burnes was supposed to elevate the pitching staff, but the team’s inability to advance in the postseason has raised questions about the future. As Burnes enters free agency, the Orioles face the possibility of losing one of their best pitchers after just one season. With several other teams likely to push for his services, the Orioles are in a race  against time to lock him down.

The Nightmare Scenario: Burnes to a Rival

If Burnes decides to leave  Baltimore, there are a few destinations that would sting the most for Orioles fans. A move to an AL East rival like the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees would mean facing Burnes multiple times a season, which would only fuel the pain of watching him thrive in the division. However, an even more unsettling scenario might be Burnes signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers, fresh off a World Series championship, are always in the market for elite pitching, and Burnes would be a perfect fit to bolster their already strong rotation.

The Dodgers’ Appeal for Burnes

Burnes could be heading to the Dodgers in free agency, joining a pitching staff that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and potentially Shohei Ohtani. With the Dodgers’ rotation struggling toward the end of the 2024 season, Burnes could be the key piece to help them reclaim dominance on the mound. While it would be a tough pill to swallow for the Orioles, the allure of playing for his hometown team in California, just two hours from his native Bakersfield, might be too strong for Burnes to resist.

Will the Orioles Keep Burnes?

Despite the competition from big-market teams like the Dodgers, the Orioles are expected to make a serious offer to retain Burnes. However, when teams like Los Angeles, along with other MLB powerhouses, enter the bidding, the price tag could become staggering. The Orioles’ front office will need to pull out all the stops to keep Burnes in Baltimore, but the odds  are increasingly stacked against  them as the Winter Meetings approach.