Starter search continues for Orioles after Burnes finds new team

Numerous questions immediately came to mind among Orioles fans as news broke super-early Saturday morning that Corbin Burnes was in agreement with the Diamondbacks on a six-year, $210 million deal.

Among them: Now what?

Burnes always seemed like a long shot to stay with the Orioles, mostly due to the money but also his preference to sign with a West Coast team and pitch closer to his Arizona home.

Can’t get much closer than the Diamondbacks.

Family matters with Burnes, who was given permission multiple times to leave the club and be with wife Brooke for the birth and care of twin daughters Charlotte and Harper. Son Carter was two years old when Burnes came to the Orioles.

Burnes reportedly has received a $10 million signing bonus and is guaranteed $70 million the first two years of his deal before he can opt out of the remaining $140 million over last four seasons. Reports also stated that he turned down more lucrative offers, which emphasized how much location mattered to him.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman, who broke the story, passed along that "three East teams, including the Jays and Orioles, were the biggest bidders."

The Orioles were “in on” multiple high-profile free-agent starters, but the only addition is Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on a $13 million contract for 2025. He isn’t viewed as a top-of-rotation piece, perhaps slotting fourth or fifth.

So, yes, now what?

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias told the assembled media at the Winter Meetings that he could bring in two starters but he didn’t make any promises.

"I think it is possible,” he said. “There are scenarios where I could see that happening, but no guarantees."

Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is the top starter remaining in free agency, followed by Jack Flaherty, a disappointing deadline acquisition by the Orioles in 2023. Max Fried and Blake Snell signed with the Yankees and Dodgers, respectively. Sean Manaea, Nathan Eovaldi, Yusei Kikuchi, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler and Luis Severino also came off the board.

Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, José Quintana, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Charlie Morton, Michael Lorenzen and Kyle Gibson are available to sign but aren’t in the same class as Burnes and others who project as a one or two.

A trade remains the best route to an impactful starter for the upper portion of the rotation if the Orioles surrender the necessary prospects. They didn’t get Garrett Crochet, who went to the Red Sox for a four-player package of minor leaguers. They didn’t get Jesús Luzardo, who went to the Phillies for two minor leaguers.

Dylan Cease is linked to the Orioles every year and the Padres apparently would move him. The Mariners have Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller. The Twins have Pablo López. The Diamondbacks could part with left-hander Jordan Montgomery, a disaster this past season who is getting squeezed out of that rotation. The Astros reportedly will hold onto Framber Valdez.

Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are targeting the second half to make their returns from reconstructive elbow surgery. Bradish was exhibiting traits of a No. 1 before his injury. Maybe he’s that guy. But that doesn’t help in the first half.

Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez would vie for the Opening Day assignment if Elias doesn’t bring in a No. 1. Sugano and Dean Kremer would be in, and competition for the last spot would include Trevor Rogers, Cade Povich and Albert Suárez. Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young will be in camp but might have to wait their turns.

Burnes was expected to be a one-year rental after the Orioles got him from the Brewers for prospects DL Hall and Joey Ortiz. They made a bold move, went for it and were swept by the Royals in the Wild Card round.

The former Cy Young Award winner joins a select group of high-profile players who stayed for only one season, the most notable being outfielder Reggie Jackson in 1976 and Nelson Cruz in 2014. Mike Torrez posted the only 20-win season of his 18-year career in 1975 before going to the Athletics in the Jackson trade.

Burnes was the undisputed ace, draining the drama out of the Opening Day starter announcement in spring training. You can go back to Mike Mussina to find the last Orioles starter with that stature, but he spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Baltimore.

The Orioles got nothing for letting Mussina sign with the Yankees. They will receive a compensatory draft pick for Burnes, who declined a qualifying offer after posting a 2.92 ERA in 32 games and finishing fifth in Cy Young voting in the American League. After he allowed one run and pitched into the ninth inning against the Royals in the Wild Card series.

Burnes didn’t fall into their laps. He didn’t hold out for $245 million. He found the deal that he wanted and left the Orioles still lacking a No. 1.

“There's 30 teams that would love to have it,” manager Brandon Hyde said at the Winter Meetings, “but there’s only so many of those guys out there.”

Burnes no longer is one of them.

Now what?