MLB Rumors: Baltimore Orioles' Costly Gamble: Letting Corbin Burnes Walk Could Haunt 2025 Playoff Hopes
The Baltimore Orioles had a golden opportunity this offseason—to lock in a proven ace, solidify a budding rotation, and send a message to the league that they were all-in on contending. Instead, they let Corbin Burnes slip through their fingers.
Now, just weeks into the 2025 season, the decision is already raising eyebrows.
Burnes Heads West, Orioles Come Up Short
Corbin Burnes, one of the most coveted pitchers on the market, signed a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, opting for long-term stability and a return closer to home in Scottsdale. While the Orioles reportedly offered a four-year, $180 million deal—a contract that would have given Burnes one of the highest annual salaries for a pitcher—it simply wasn’t enough.
The difference wasn’t just dollars—it was years, and that mattered. At age 30, with a history of arm issues, Burnes prioritized security over AAV, and Baltimore’s reluctance to extend past four years ultimately cost them their ace.
Burnes Was Baltimore’s to Lose
What stings most is that Baltimore knew Burnes better than anyone. After acquiring him in a high-profile deal, the right-hander delivered ace-level performance, anchoring a young rotation and providing postseason-caliber poise. The Orioles had a front-row seat to his value.
With new ownership under David Rubenstein, the hope was that the Orioles would finally act like a big-market team ready to spend. Instead, they played it safe. And in a players’ market, playing it safe often means losing.
Morton Fills a Gap, Not the Void
The Orioles did make a move—signing 40-year-old Charlie Morton. Sure, Morton brings postseason experience and veteran leadership, but he’s no longer a frontline starter. He’s a stopgap—not a solution.
Meanwhile, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, two pitchers Baltimore hopes can carry the torch, are both currently injured. The team’s rotation is now relying on depth—Zach Eflin, Morton, Cade Povich, and a handful of prospects—to carry them through a competitive AL East.
Without a healthy Bradish or Rodriguez, the Orioles are exposed, especially when compared to powerhouse rotations in New York and Boston.
A Missed Moment for a Statement Deal
This could’ve been the moment Rubenstein made his mark—a win-now, cornerstone-type move to kick off his tenure. Burnes was the perfect bridge between Baltimore’s young core and their championship window. Instead, the Orioles lowballed the one player who could’ve solidified their status as legitimate World Series contenders.
Final Thought
Baltimore didn’t just lose out on Corbin Burnes—they lost out on momentum, fan confidence, and a chance to make a statement. The rotation may still have promise, but the road to October just got tougher, and the price of hesitation could end up being a deep postseason run.
If 2025 ends in disappointment, this will be the moment fans look back on and ask: What if?
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