Orioles GM on trading for Corbin Burnes: 'Exactly what we needed'

The blockbuster trade for right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes by the Baltimore Orioles with the Milwaukee Brewers was "exactly" what the team needed, the Orioles' general manager Mike Elias said on Friday.

The Orioles gave up infielder Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall and a 2024 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick to acquire three-time All-Star Burnes in the deal on Thursday.

"A big trade and I think a big addition and moment for our team. Corbin Burnes is exactly what we needed," Elias said. "We were in a dogged pursuit of him the entire offseason. Obviously, there were other starting pitchers that we pursued, but it's hard to have somebody higher than Corbin Burnes on your wish list."

Burnes won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 2021. He was also the NL eared run average (ERA) and an All-MLB First Team member that year. In the following 2022 season, he was the NL strikeouts leader.

"Obviously fortunate to be traded from one team that was good to another team that is arguably even better," Burnes said. "I've been a part of winning seasons for the last seven years now."

The 29-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. The Orioles had the second-smallest payroll of $71 million of all 30 teams in 2023 and the current owners, the Angelos family, have reportedly agreed to sell the team to David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group and Mike Arougheti of Ares Management Corporation for $1.725 billion, according to multiple media outlets. They are likely to have enough money to keep Burnes with a good deal.

"Everyone wants to get to free agency, everyone wants to be able to pick where they want to play for their entire career," Burnes said. "I don't know what kind of talks will come about, but most likely it's going to be once the season starts, we'll want to focus on winning baseball games."

The Orioles finished the 2023 campaign with 101 wins, the most since 1979, and advanced to the American League Divisional Series, but lost to the Texas Rangers 3-0.