Orioles offseason wish list: Corbin Burnes

The Orioles came into the offseason with a checklist that included a backup catcher, a right-handed hitting outfielder, and a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. They knocked those first two off the list with Gary Sánchez and Tyler O’Neill, but still need to address the third.

Corbin Burnes had a fantastic 2024 season for the Orioles. When the season ended and he declared free agency, it only made sense that the Orioles should try to re-sign him. But his guaranteed big payday, his notoriously tough agent Scott Boras, and the Orioles’ reputation for not signing big free agent contracts all stood in the way.

General manager Mike Elias has said the Orioles are in the mix for any pitcher. But…