The Corbin Burnes Trade Is Already Paying Dividends

In early February, the Milwaukee Brewers traded away ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. In return, Milwaukee received top prospects Joey Ortiz and DL Hall. The Brewers also received a compensatory draft pick. Ortiz and Hall were among Baltimore’s top prospects in 2023 and both saw time with the big club. The Brewers were heavily criticized for the trade as many people believed Milwaukee didn’t get enough. While it takes time to know how successful a team was in a trade, the move is already paying the Brewers dividends.

Smartly Trading Away Corbin Burnes

This past offseason, the Brewers traded away former Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. It was the right move to make. Burnes is a year away from free agency and the Brewers front office viewed their contention window as closed. Burnes also hired Scott Boras to be his new agent, meaning it was a surefire thing he’d be entering free agency. The three-time all-star would also be commanding a salary that Milwaukee will never pay a player. In return, the Brewers received top prospects Joey Ortiz and DL Hall as well as a compensatory draft pick.

Players Determine The Success Of A Trade

The Brewers were panned for what they received in the trade. Some believed that Milwaukee should’ve asked for more in the package for Burnes. Others believed that Baltimore fleeced the Brewers altogether. Perhaps Brewers fans were still licking their wounds from the departure of manager Craig Counsell. Fortunately, the players have the final say on how a trade turns out, not the front office or fans.

The Brewers Appear to Have Found Their Third Baseman

While Hall has struggled through four starts, the jury is still out on him. However, the Brewers seemed to have found their third baseman in Joey Ortiz. Since 2016, Milwaukee has had a revolving door at third base. The only player in recent years to man the position longer than a year was Travis Shaw. Ortiz initially made the team out of camp as a second baseman. However, the Brewers moved him to third base where he was Initially in a timeshare with Oliver Dunn. The former Orioles farmhand subsequently won the job after Dunn was sent back down to Triple-A Nashville.

Ortiz Is Thriving

Since winning the job over Dunn, Ortiz hasn’t looked back. So far this season, Ortiz has put up a slash line of .290/.398/.533 with five home runs, 15 RBI, and a .931 OPS. He also already has a game-winning hit. It has been a while since the Brewers were able to get this kind of production out of a third baseman. His success offensively has also helped the Brewers average 5.03 runs per game and are currently in first place in the division. While this is his first extended look at the big-league level, Joey Ortiz is already showing that he belongs. Ortiz will also be on the team for years to come as he’s currently not even eligible for arbitration.

Milwaukee Is Already Being Rewarded For Making This Move

While trading Corbin Burnes was difficult, it was the right move to make for both the present and future. So far, the Brewers already received the reward for making the right decision. Despite the early criticism, the Brewers appear to have netted a good return. While it’s too early to judge DL Hall, Joey Ortiz looks like the Brewers’ regular third baseman for years to come. Milwaukee’s nine-year-old problem at the position looks to be finally solved.

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