The Baltimore Orioles will have extensions they need to work out throughout the next few seasons. While Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson aren’t free agents for another few seasons, locking them up long-term should be in the Orioles’ best interest.
With the young talent proving that they belonged a bit earlier than expected, the Orioles committed to them and traded for Corbin Burnes.
The former Cy Young Award winner is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2024 season. He’s expected to put this team over the top and make them legitimate World Series contenders.
If that comes true in the regular season and it’s clear that Burnes is liked around the clubhouse, agreeing to an extension before he hits free agency makes too much sense.
Allowing him to hit the open market where teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and others can attempt to sign him only makes it tougher for the Orioles.
The price tags going to be high no matter when they sign him, so agreeing to a deal in the immediate future is the best possible scenario. Plus, Baltimore traded DL Hall and Joey Ortiz, two of the top prospects in a loaded farm system. The front office must’ve had some confidence that they could extend him when they traded with the Milwaukee Brewers.
2023 marked four straight years that Burnes finished top eight in Cy Young voting. He accomplished the honor in 2021 and will look to add his second one in the pursuit of a World Series for the Orioles this season.
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