Ever since Corbin Burnes passed on a return to Baltimore last offseason, the Orioles have had a need for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. With a growing expectation that the Baltimore Orioles will commit to upgrading their pitching staff this offseason, they could follow the blueprint they had when they acquired Burnes.
Burnes was entering his contract season, and the small-market Milwaukee Brewers made the decision to trade the perennial Cy Young Award candidate instead of letting him leave for nothing via free agency. It's a strategy the Brewers followed last offseason, trading Devin Williams to the New York Yankees ahead of his contract year, and one they may follow again this offseason.