It’s been a while since the Orioles have boasted a true ace, but that changed this week when Baltimore acquired Corbin Burnes from the Brewers.
The move demonstrated that the young team — in the midst of being sold — is all in and ready to defend its American League East title. The Yankees, meanwhile, now have one extra arm to worry about in their own division as they try to rebound from a fourth-place finish in 2023.
“That could be a little bit of a problem,” Aaron Boone said Saturday during Pinstripe Pride, an autograph signing at New Jersey’s American Dream mall. “That was my first reaction. Obviously, an amazing pitcher going to a great team. We’ll see a lot of ’em and look forward to the opportunity competing against the best.”
Burnes, acquired for DL Hall, Joey Ortiz and a competitive balance pick, owns a 2.86 ERA since 2020 and ended up with a 3.39 mark last year. The 29-year-old is scheduled to hit free agency after the season, so he may not have many chances to torment the Yankees and could even become a target again after rumors linked the two parties this offseason.
For now, Burnes gives the Orioles a Cy Young winner of their own, someone who can go toe to toe with Gerrit Cole, who won the award this past season.
“I’m sure that’ll happen at some point,” Boone said of the potential matchup. “You never know how the schedule falls. He pitched late in the season against us and pitched really well in the Bronx against us, so hopefully we can find our way against him too a little bit.”
Indeed, Burnes dominated the Yankees when Milwaukee visited New York at the end of the 2023 campaign. The three-time All-Star, dueling against Cole, held the Bombers hitless for eight scoreless innings while striking out seven on Sept. 10. Cole threw seven blank innings himself and the Yankees managed to win in extra innings, but Burnes had no problem with the pinstripers in his only career start against them.
This year, Burnes will have to face a Yankees lineup that has added Juan Soto, along with some balance. If Soto, Aaron Judge and other hitters stay healthy, the Yankees should pose more of a threat to the right-hander and the Orioles this season.
Of course, the Yankees will need their own rotation to be effective and healthy as well.
Cole, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt currently make up the Yankees’ projected rotation. Two-thirds of that group — Rodón, Cortes and Stroman — missed notable time last year with injuries. Rodón and Cortes weren’t effective on the rare occasions that they pitched.
Still, Boone is confident that his rotation can succeed if it stays off the shelf.
“With health, I think we’re gonna be really good,” Boone said. “But it’s early February, so we got a long ways to go. I’m excited about some of the depth that we’ve replenished, but also guys that are pushing up. I think there’s gonna be some people that surprise there. But I’m really excited about some of the guys, especially Carlos and Nestor coming off injury-riddled seasons. I’m excited about the winters those guys are having and where they’re at. Obviously, bringing in Marcus. So we feel like it has a chance to be really good, but we gotta go make it happen.”
When it comes to rotation depth, the Yankees do have several options they can turn to if needed. They include Will Warren, Clayton Beeter, Chase Hampton, Luis Gil, Yoendrys Gómez, Luke Weaver, Cody Poteet and Cody Morris.
