The Baltimore Orioles are facing a tough battle in retaining ace Corbin Burnes as he heads into free agency. Burnes, the 2021 Cy Young Award winner, is expected to command one of the highest contracts in the offseason, potentially worth over $300 million. While the Orioles benefited greatly from Burnes’ performance this season, they are not considered the favorites to keep him due to the anticipated high competition from other teams, particularly big spenders like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers [[❞]](https://sportsnaut.com/mlb-insider-links-blake-snell-to-baltimore-orioles/) [[❞]](https://pressboxonline.com/2024/08/29/orioles-face-tough-road-with-pending-free-agents-corbin-burnes-anthony-santander/).
Burnes played a pivotal role for the Orioles after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, proving to be one of their most consistent pitchers. However, the team’s traditionally conservative approach to long-term, high-priced contracts presents a significant hurdle. Although new Orioles owner David Rubenstein has signaled a willingness to increase the payroll, the franchise has not been known to engage in high-stakes bidding wars, especially for pitchers [[❞]](https://fansided.com/posts/orioles-bargaining-chip-corbin-burnes) [[❞]](https://pressboxonline.com/2024/08/29/orioles-face-tough-road-with-pending-free-agents-corbin-burnes-anthony-santander/).
The Orioles’ future decisions in free agency will depend on their ability to balance financial prudence with the need to remain competitive. While they could make a push to keep Burnes, their ability to compete with wealthier franchises will be tested. This offseason may represent a turning point for the Orioles if they aim to break away from their past reluctance to invest heavily in star players [[❞]](https://pressboxonline.com/2024/08/29/orioles-face-tough-road-with-pending-free-agents-corbin-burnes-anthony-santander/).
