The Baltimore Orioles upgraded their 2024 prospects Thursday by trading for Brewers ace Corbin Burnes.
The move, which sent minor leaguers DL Hall and Joey Ortiz to Milwaukee, increases the Orioles’ odds to win the World Series to +1200, the defending champions with the fifth-highest World Series odds behind the Dodgers (+350). The Texas Rangers are now on par with the Texas Rangers. Braves (+500), Astros (+800), Yankees (+900) at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Baltimore was +1900 and an all-time favorite before the trade.
The odds of winning the American League pennant have also been nearly halved, going from +900 before Barnes to +550.
The addition of Barnes also increased the preseason win total from 88.5 to 91.5, trailing only the American League’s Yankees (93.5) and Astros (92.5).
The Orioles are currently at +240, closing in on the Yankees (+120) for a chance to advance to the AL East.
Baltimore is coming off a season with 101 wins and an AL East championship as part of the youngest team in baseball.
The franchise entered the offseason with the talent it needed at the top of its rotation, but until Thursday’s blockbuster, it seemed content to enter the 2024 season without a true ace.
Barnes has quickly become one of the favorites to win next year’s AL Cy Young Award.
The right-hander, who won the National League title in 2021, is +900 with his second win, this time on the junior circuit.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole remains the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award for the second straight time, with Burns in fourth place.
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Barnes joins the top of an already deep Orioles rotation that includes Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and John Means.
Offensively, the Orioles have two top-10 MVP candidates in catcher Adley Rutschman and AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson.
Baltimore also boasts one of the best farm systems in the league, with the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball looming in Jackson Holiday.
