Orioles News: Baltimore claims intriguing arm, Corbin Burnes contract prediction

We are still a few week away from the trade market getting into full swing as the buyers and sellers fully establish themselves, but the Baltimore Orioles are fully expected to be right in the middle of all of it. Given the injuries they have dealt with in 2024, the Orioles have already been reported to be actively exploring the trade market for arms with a keen focus on relief help.

Again, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see if those efforts bear fruit, but that doesn't mean that the Orioles' front office is sitting on their hands in the meantime. Minor moves are still very possible to make in the interim and Baltimore made one such move when they claimed Levi Stoudt off waivers from the Mariners.

Orioles News: Baltimore claims Levi Stoudt off waivers, officially place Means on 60-day IL

This is purely a depth move for a guy in Stoudt that has intriguing stuff, but who has not been able to harness it as a pro. For the moment, Stoudt is considered a starter and he will probably reside in Triple-A and serve as an emergency option for the Orioles' rotation if need. However, there is an argument that he could be better served by a move to the bullpen where his mid-90s heater and sometimes amazing split-change could play up.

As for moving Means to the 60-day IL, this was a formality and an easy move to make room for Stoudt on the roster. Means was going to be out for the season regardless of his IL status given that he just had Tommy John surgery, so making the procedural move official was inevitable and just needed an excuse to get done.

Orioles News: Prediction for Corbin Burnes' next contract has him getting PAID

For quite some time now, Corbin Burnes has made no secret of his desire to look for a big contract in free agency. His experience in getting screwed in arbitration repeatedly by the Brewers has him looking for revenge and it sure doesn't hurt that he has a case to be the best projected free agent starter alongside Max Fried in this upcoming FA class. However, Bleacher Report's prediction for his next deal is wild even by those standards.

In their latest piece, B/R has Burnes landing a staggering $288 million deal over eight years. Their rationale seems to be that Burnes is only a year older than Gerrit Cole when the Yankees ace got his $324 million deal, but Burnes isn't quite as dominant as Cole was/is and Cole's injury this year was a reminder that giving pitchers big money often doesn't age well.

It is probably safe to take the under on B/R's prediction, but Burnes will probably still command more in free agency than the Orioles would be comfortable paying.

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