The Baltimore Orioles have made a major splash ahead of the 2025 MLB season by landing two high-profile starting pitchers: former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and veteran World Series champion Charlie Morton. These additions signal a serious push by the Orioles to transform their rotation and make a deeper run in the playoffs after a promising 2024 season.
Corbin Burnes, acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, is the centerpiece of this rotation overhaul. Burnes, 29, has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball over the past few years. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021 and has continued to perform at a high level. In the 2024 season, Burnes posted a 3.39 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and tallied 10 wins over 193⅔ innings. The Orioles had to give up significant talent to land him, including infielder Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall, and a 2024 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick. But for a team looking to win now, Burnes’ ace-level talent could be the difference-maker.
Joining Burnes in Baltimore is Charlie Morton, a 41-year-old right-hander known for his postseason experience and consistent reliability. Morton, a two-time All-Star and 2017 World Series champion with the Houston Astros, signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Orioles. Though his 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves saw a modest 4.19 ERA and 8-10 record, he remained durable, making 30 starts and striking out 167 batters. Morton’s veteran presence is expected to have a stabilizing effect on a young Orioles pitching staff.
These acquisitions mark a clear shift in strategy for the Orioles. For years, Baltimore has relied on developing young talent, and while that approach has borne fruit with promising arms like Grayson Rodriguez, the team now appears ready to compete at a higher level. Adding Burnes and Morton brings both frontline production and veteran leadership to a rotation that now looks like one of the strongest in the American League East.
The Orioles’ 2025 projected rotation could include Burnes, Morton, Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and Tomoyuki Sugano. It’s a well-balanced mix of power, finesse, and experience that should give the team a real shot at contending. With the offensive core already in place, these moves address one of the Orioles’ biggest needs from last season — reliable starting pitching.
Baltimore fans have every reason to be excited. These signings show that the front office believes the time to win is now, and they’re backing that belief with action. Whether it’s Burnes’ strikeout stuff or Morton’s playoff-tested arm, the Orioles are gearing up to be a major force in 2025. This might just be the year Charm City hosts some October baseball once again.
