Orioles acquire former Cy Young winner in blockbuster trade

For the Orioles, it is an absolutely massive move that should make them not only a top contender in the American League East, but also in the entire American League for a potential trip to the World Series. They are coming off a 101-win season and AL East title in 2023, and have a tremendous young core led by catcher Adley Rutschman. The one thing they were lacking was a true front-line starting pitcher, and now they have one in Burnes.

Both Ortiz and Hall are already 25 years old but have almost no big-league experience. Ortiz was a top-100 prospect in baseball entering the 2023 season and played in 15 major league games. Hall was a similarly rated prospect and ended up appearing in 18 games out of the bullpen. 

It is probably a lot harder for Brewers fans to accept this move. 

They were not only in the playoffs a year ago, but also play in a National League Central division that remains completely wide open without a single dominant team anywhere in the field. Now they traded away one of their top pitchers for two players that are total wild cards and may not ever come close to matching the value that Burnes has. 

Burnes won the 2021 NL Cy Young and posted a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts during the 2023 season. He has finished in the top-eight in Cy Young voting in each of the past four years