The Baltimore Orioles didn’t rest on their achievements after topping the American League with 101 wins last season.
Concerned about their youthful and inexperienced pitching staff struggling in the postseason, the team made significant moves by acquiring two former All-Stars. They traded for Corbin Burnes and signed Craig Kimbrel.
“These acquisitions were highly impactful,” remarked Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday before his team defeated the Atlanta Braves 10-3 at CoolToday Park in North Port, FL.
“We had some departures but gaining Corbin through the trade was crucial. As a former No. 1 starter and All-Star, his addition has been monumental for us. Our starting rotation, which was relatively young, now has more experience.”
In the trade that brought Burnes, 29, to Baltimore, the Orioles parted with three young players when the Milwaukee Brewers put him on the market in the offseason. The former National League Cy Young Award winner has maintained an average of 2.6 walks and 11 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his career.
Similar to Burnes, Kimbrel is a right-handed former All-Star. Last season, he surpassed 400 saves and is now just five saves away from entering the top five closers on the all-time saves list.
Bench coach Fredi Gonzalez, a seasoned manager of two major-league teams, expressed his thoughts on the team’s performance.
“While we achieved 101 victories, our performance in the playoffs fell short,” he remarked. “It was a significant year for our young players to accumulate wins, especially after securing around 83 wins the previous season. We are honing our winning mentality collectively, but I would trade 10 of those 100 wins if it meant achieving success in the playoffs.”
Gonzalez shares a history with Kimbrel, previously serving as his manager during their time with the Atlanta Braves. He fondly recalls reminiscing about their past experiences together, likening Kimbrel to a DeLorean with open doors as he focuses on the catcher for signals.
Regarding Burnes, Gonzalez exudes confidence in the pitcher, labeling him as a valuable asset to the team’s pitching staff. He praises Burnes’ contributions both on and off the field, particularly in mentoring the younger pitchers on the team.
The Orioles bid farewell to Kyle Gibson, a 6’6″ right-hander who departed to St. Louis through free agency after a productive 15-9 record in the 2023 season.
Burnes, set to earn $15,637,500 this season according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, instantly becomes the top-earning player on the youthful Orioles roster. While he may enter free agency after this season, negotiations could be influenced by his agent, Scott Boras, known for prolonging contract discussions to secure favorable deals.
Despite uncertainties looming about Burnes’ future, the Orioles remain focused on the present. They plan to finalize their pitching rotation with Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and John Means, with potential contributions from Cole Irvin.
As the Orioles’ new primary closer, Kimbrel will receive support from set-up pitchers Yannier Cano and Danny Coulombe. Cano, known for his sinkerball pitching style, might also feature in crucial late-game scenarios.
Baltimore’s impressive triple-digit win count last season marked a significant achievement, the first since 1980. However, they anticipate tougher competition from teams like the Yankees, who acquired Juan Soto, and the Blue Jays, who closely trailed the Orioles by two games in the division standings last season. The Blue Jays are poised to present a strong challenge this year.
Due to their reliance on young talent, the Orioles maintain financial flexibility compared to many of their competitors. With a projected 2024 payroll of $114.4 million – ranking 29th among MLB teams per Cot’s Contracts – the Orioles remain financially adept, alongside the Oakland Athletics.
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