Latest Corbin Burnes rumors speak volumes about Orioles' offseason approach

It was never really a question of if the Baltimore Orioles were interested in bringing back Corbin Burnes. That much was obvious. The real question was: how far were they actually willing to go to make it happen?

According to multiple sources, and later confirmed by Burnes’ camp, Baltimore made a serious push — a four-year, $180 million offer that would have given Burnes a rather large $45 million average annual value. That figure would’ve trailed only Shohei Ohtani in terms of highest AAV for a pitcher in baseball history. So yes, the Orioles were willing to open the checkbook. But only to a point.

Baltimore Orioles’ contract strategy is questionable after Corbin Burnes offer

Burnes ultimately declined Baltimore’s offer, opting instead for a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks — a contract that included opt-outs and deferrals, features that were not present in Baltimore’s offer. While the raw annual number was higher with the Orioles, the added years and flexibility offered by Arizona made all the difference.

You could point to external factors — Arizona’s lower state income tax, Burnes’ preference to be closer to home and family — and they’re valid. But that’s not really the story here.

The story is that the Orioles made a short-term offer to a long-term pitcher. And when push came to shove, they weren't willing to stretch beyond that.

It’s not just a Burnes issue, either. This offseason, Baltimore’s moves tell a clear story: short-term fixes instead of long-term cornerstones. Whether it was signing veterans like Charlie Morton or international arms like Tomoyuki Sugano, or picking up players like Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill, the front office made it known — they’re keeping their flexibility.

And now, it’s hard to ignore that the Orioles simply don’t want to tie themselves down to long-term deals.

That brings us to a more pressing question — what will it take for the Orioles to make that kind of commitment?

Because while they passed on going the distance for Burnes, they have rising stars already in the clubhouse. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson aren’t just good — they’re franchise talents. Players you build dynasties around. So how will Baltimore approach their futures? Will they finally break character and invest in keeping their core together long-term?

Hopefully, they do. Because the worst-case scenario isn't just missing out on Burnes. It’s cause for concern that they may just be okay with wasting the prime years of one of the most promising young rosters in baseball. And that would be a failure no dollar figure could justify.