Reds could capitalize on Orioles' shortcomings after Corbin Burnes signs with D-backs

The Baltimore Orioles lost their ace in the wee-hours of Saturday morning after it was announced that Corbin Burnes agreed to a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The O's traded for the former NL Cy Young Award-winner last winter, and have now lost him to free agency.

The D-backs are a surprise landing spot for Burnes. Both the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants were rumored to be leading contenders for Burnes' services, and the Orioles made a strong push to re-sign the four-time All-Star as well.

The Orioles have made big strides in the past two seasons with little to show for it. Baltimore narrowly missed out on the MLB Postseason in 2022, but notched 101 wins in 2023. However, the Orioles were swept out of the playoffs that year at the hands of the Texas Rangers. Last season brought even more pain to the city of Baltimore after the upstart O's were ousted from the postseason in just two games by the Kansas City Royals.

The Reds have something the Orioles need after missing out Corbin Burnes

The Orioles need a frontline starter. It just so happens that the Cincinnati Reds happen to have a plethora of starting pitchers (and are oddly looking for more). The Reds, however, are sorely in need of an outfield bat; something the Orioles have an abundance of. Perhaps these two teams could pull off a mutually beneficial trade.

The Reds' starting rotation, as currently constructed, features Hunter Greene, Nick Martinez, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer. The Redlegs also have Graham Ashcraft, Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns waiting in the wings, along with Chase Petty and Connor Phillips. Though Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar are slated to miss the upcoming season due to injury, both are expected to return to the mound in 2026.

As for the Orioles, their projected outfield features Colton Cowser, Ryan O'Hearn, Heston Kjestad, Tyler O'Neill, and Cedric Mullins. The O's are also incredibly deep on the infield dirt, and there's a chance that one or more of their young infielders could be moved to the outfield grass. Five of Baltimore's top 10 prospects are also outfielders, including former first-rounders Vance Honeycutt and Enrique Bradfield Jr.

Could Reds tempt the Orioles to make a trade for Andrew Abbott or Nick Lodolo?

Baltimore has not yet shown an inclination to invest heavily in the free agent market, and with Burnes now off the board, former Orioles' hurler Jack Flaherty is arguably the best starter remaining on the free agent market. Much like the Reds, the Orioles missed out on trading for Garrett Crochet. There are others, like Luis Castillo and Dylan Cease, who are also available in trades.

But Castillo is an expensive contract to take on and is coming off a down-year with the Seattle Mariners. In Cease, Baltimore would be getting a top-tier starter, but like Burnes, Cease would hit the free agent market after just one year in the Charm City. Any one of Lodolo, Abbott, Lowder, or Burns would give Baltimore a frontline starter who's under team control for multiple years at an affordable price.

This is the type of trade that should appeal to both the Reds and Orioles — trading from an area of strength to bolster an area of weakness. Will Nick Krall and Mike Elias get on the horn in the coming days? It's certainly a possibility.

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