Yankees Manager Reveals Thoughts On Orioles’ Huge Trade

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone knows the road to tacking back the AL East just got a little tougher.

The Baltimore Orioles pulled off a major trade that makes their starting rotation better for 2024, as the team acquired Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes by trade on Thursday.

The Orioles have been trying to bolster their own pitching staff this season, without much luck. Their biggest acquisition to that point had been signing closer Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal.

Well, Burnes — who won a Cy Young in 2021 — is much more significant. Even more incredible is that the Orioles didn’t have to dismantle any of its current rotation to acquire him.

The Orioles are a team that the New York Yankees are chasing, and manager Aaron Boone took notice after the deal was done.

Boone’s reaction?

“That could be a bit of a problem.,” Boone said to MLB.com on Saturday.

By adding Burnes — even if it for just one season as he hits free agency after 2024 — the Orioles have acquired a pitcher that has been a reliable right-hander. He’s won at least 10 games each of his last three seasons and in his Cy Young season in 2021 he had an MLB-low 2.43 ERA.

In 2023 he went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts and had an NL-best WHIP of 1.069.

That makes Burnes the ace of a rotation that could include Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells. All were with the Orioles last season as they won 101 games and claimed the American League East.

That’s the Yankees’ initial goal in 2024 — take back the division.

Boone told MLB.com that he believes his rotation is up to the challenge, assuming its healthy.

Boone’s group is anchored by newly-minter Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. The Yankees added former All-Star Marcus Stroman in free agency. The Yankees also have Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt as a potential opening-day rotation.

The Yankees also have depth in Yoendrys Gómez, Luis Gil and top prospect Clayton Beeter.