Hello, friends.
As I sit down to write this article, not even 24 hours have passed since the news that Corbin Burnes would be signing with his home state team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, apparently spurning more lucrative offers from other teams (reportedly but not definitively including the Orioles) to do so.
This is the toughest blow of the offseason to date, because up until now you could at least imagine that as long as Burnes was out there, the Orioles could improve the way they need to at the top of the rotation. As other names peeled away, Burnes was still out there. Now, he’s not. With Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki unlikely to choose Baltimore either, what else is left? It’s tough.
Fans are never going to know exactly what the Orioles did or did not offer to Burnes. The six years and $210 million that he was offered by the Diamondbacks, with an opt-out after year two, is a serious AAV. $35 million per year! Was the combination of GM Mike Elias and owner David Rubenstein really beyond that guaranteed salary number, spurned only so that Burnes could keep living where he already lives? It is believable that they were. For those inclined to be mad about this whole thing, it is believable that they were not actually in it at the end.
I think it’s not very likely that the Orioles went into this offseason with the idea that it was going to be Burnes or bust. Maybe they never even expected to sign Burnes. He probably had given enough behind-the-scenes signs over the course of the 2024 season that he had a strong, possibly unshakeable preference to remain close to his home. When the Diamondbacks entered the picture, that was probably that – not that fans could have known this two months ago either.
What was the plan? Now that Burnes is out, what plan remains? That’s what matters now. I don’t know the answer. Whatever Elias has done, however aggressive he has been, he has nothing to show for it for possible top-of-the-rotation additions unless the signing of Tomoyuki Sugano reaches its absolute best outcome. It doesn’t do much good to have tried hard if they didn’t improve. They need the actual improvement.
This year offered the example that there can be a late move that changes the picture greatly. The Orioles got Burnes late in the offseason. A trade to address the deficiency could still happen, if there’s someone who the O’s like and that player’s team is willing to accept a price that the O’s will pay. Much like the O’s getting Burnes, that will be a state secret until it happens, if it happens.
In the meantime, some disappointment is understandable.
Around the blogO’sphere
Source: Orioles offer to Corbin Burnes fell short of deal with Arizona (The Baltimore Banner)
Danielle Allentuck’s source said that the Orioles offer to Burnes “did not reach the level he ultimately agreed to,” which could be taken a few different ways that are not elaborated on here.
Who will be the Orioles ace in 2025? (Orioles.com)
The MLB.com reporters for each team are considering what is each team’s biggest question to address before spring training. This one for the Orioles is indeed the biggest question out there.
Tomoyuki Sugano brings soft-tossing style and an open mind to the Orioles (The Baltimore Sun)
The Orioles rotation picture would look a lot worse if Sugano hadn’t been added. But they just need something more. That’s what it comes down to.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 2005, the funeral took place for longtime Orioles player and coach Elrod Hendricks. Infamously at the time, the only current Oriole to attend was Melvin Mora.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2007 pitcher Jaret Wright, 2006 pitcher Jim Brower, and 1978-81 pitcher Dave Ford. Today is Ford’s 68th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! Your birthday buddies for today include: rubber tire pioneer Charles Goodyear (1800), 17th president Andrew Johnson (1808), actress Mary Tyler Moore (1936), actor Jude Law (1972), and actress Alison Brie (1982).
On this day in history…
In 1170, knights who may or may not have been acting with the direct command of England’s King Henry II entered Canterbury Cathedral with the aim of arresting the archbishop, Thomas Becket. Upon Becket’s refusal to be arrested inside the church, he was killed inside it instead.
In 1845, the Republic of Texas was annexed into the United States, at which point Texas became the 28th state.
In 1890, at least 250 members of the Lakota tribe were massacred by US Army forces at Wounded Knee in the Pine Ridge Reservation. There were 19 Medals of Honor given to men who participated.
In 1937, the Constitution of Ireland took effect, changing what had been known as the Irish Free State to its current form, the Republic of Ireland.
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