It’s a crucial offseason for the Baltimore Orioleswith many big decisions to be made. The team enters the winter clearly on a six-year rebuild after experiencing a postseason the past two years.
Unfortunately, reaching a playoff spot is as far as they went.
The Orioles have failed to win a game in the postseason, being swept both times.
The next step for the organization?
Of course, as a World Series participant, that story can’t exist if they can’t find a way to win in October.
As the team enters a new era following its sale to local businessman David Rubenstein, optimism surrounding the ball club has never been higher. The new owner has officially declared this he wants to “accelerate efforts” to bring a championship to Baltimore, and now that they’re headed to free agency, that only means one thing; spend money.
That’s exactly what CBS SportsMike Axisa thinks this will happen with one of his ten bold offseason predictions.
He believes the Orioles will “open their wallets” this winter, but not just for any big name. He thinks it will be a reunion for last year’s staff ace Corbin Burnes.
“If the Orioles want to be considered an elite team, then it’s time to spend like an elite team…,” Axisa wrote. “I can’t help but feel like a little more offseason activity will put them in a better position in 2024. You can’t get these years back. You can’t kick the can down the road forever.
It’s still unclear how aggressive Rubenstein and the rest of the Orioles’ new ownership group will be in their efforts to cement the organization as a serious contender not just for 2025 but beyond.
However, bringing back a player like Burnes, who pitched well for Baltimore last season, would certainly be a step in the right direction. It would also remove any risk they would have from moving some of their best prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire the right-handed one.
Axisa predicts: ‘Rubenstein opens his wallet to keep top player Corbin Burnes in Baltimore. Aces today earn more than $40 million a year. We’ll say Burnes gets eight years and $320 million ($40 million AAV), which puts him at age 37, the same age that Gerrit Cole’s nine-year contract will see him through with the Yankees.”
This would be an unprecedented signing for the Orioles, and it would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the American League East.
The ownership group would also help fill the seats in their stadium, which is just back under contract with the city for the next 30 years, as it would send a clear message to fans that they are willing to do whatever it takes to Putting Baltimore first. World Series since 1983.
If Rubenstein pulls out the checkbook and spends money for Burnes like this, who’s to say he’ll stop there?
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