Justifying The Corbin Burnes Trade

The Milwaukee Brewers recently traded away their ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for two prospects. For fans complaining and bashing the organization, you know full well it was the right move to make. Given how close we’re getting to the beginning of Spring Training, I thought Milwaukee would make the mistake of keeping him. Burnes will be entering free agency after this year and it’s a guarantee that he’ll test the market. Given the going rate of starting pitchers on the open market these days, Burnes will command a salary that Milwaukee is unable to afford. Ultimately, the Milwaukee Brewers did the right thing by trading him now.

A Stellar Resume The Past Three Years

Corbin Burnes has had a very accomplished early career. In the past three seasons, Burnes has been the best pitcher in baseball. His resume includes three all-star nods, a Cy Young award, and leading the league in earned run average and strikeouts one time each. With Burnes as the ace of the staff, the Brewers also won three division titles in six seasons. Most pitchers would beg to have that kind of resume before they are eligible to be a free agent.

The Trade

All offseason, the Brewers had been sending mixed messages around the league about Corbin Burnes’s availability. Before trading him, it looked as if Burnes would spend at least the beginning of the season in Milwaukee. However, with two weeks to go before Spring Training begins, Milwaukee flipped Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for top prospects DL Hall and Joey Ortiz. Baltimore got the ace it needed to be a serious contender and Milwaukee got two prospects ranked inside the top-100. This now gives the Brewers seven top-100 prospects, which is the most in all of baseball.

The Brewers Would’ve Regretted Keeping Him

While it’s hard for most fans to understand, the Brewers did the right thing. Milwaukee was going to be unable to meet his asking price this offseason when he becomes a free agent. Keeping Burnes for his final year of team control would’ve impacted Milwaukee badly in the future. Holding on to him would mean diminishing his trade value or losing him for nothing in return. The Brewers aren’t a World Series contender where losing him for nothing could potentially be not that bad. Burnes’s days with the Brewers were numbered anyway regardless of what happens this season.

Trading Corbin Burnes Sets Milwaukee Up Better For The Future

Corbin Burnes was leaving after this season to test free agency. The Milwaukee Brewers were not going to be able to bring him back after next season regardless. With Milwaukee’s contention window now closed, it made it easier to make him expendable. Given that the Brewers aren’t a World Series contender, it would hurt them long-term if they let him walk for nothing. This is something that the fans will never take the time to understand. While trading Corbin Burnes was no doubt difficult, I believe the Brewers are better set up for the future.

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