Milwaukee Brewers Rumors: Orioles want Corbin Burnes in Manny Machado Deal

We’re now getting a little more clarity on the details of the Milwaukee Brewers pursuit of Orioles’ star Manny Machado.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Baltimore Orioles have tried to pry away top pitching prospect Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers in negotiations for Manny Machado. Unsurprisingly, GM David Stearns is balking at putting Burnes in the deal.

The Orioles have asked for some of the Dodgers top prospects in negotiations as well. They’re also having no luck getting traction on those players.

Corbin Burnes is the pride of the Brewers farm system, along with Keston Hiura. He posted a sub-2.00 ERA last season in his rise up the organizational ladder last season. Burnes has struggled to start the 2018 season with Triple-A, but has recently been called up to the big leagues. He’s now pitching out of the bullpen because that’s where the Brewers feel he can make the most impact with the big league club this year.

There is no doubt that Burnes is an appealing target for any organization, but David Stearns is understandably unwilling to include him in a deal for a rental bat. Burnes could be an ace in the future. Moving him for a player at a different position that won’t stay in Milwaukee beyond this year doesn’t make sense from Stearns’ perspective.

Who will Stearns try to move instead?

Again, Ken Rosenthal has the answer. Per his sources, the Brewers are trying to convince the Orioles to accept a package headlined by RHP Luis Ortiz and OF Brett Phillips.

Ortiz is the only remaining piece from the Jonathan Lucroy trade a few years ago. He’s toiled at Double-A for a few years now, but was recently named to the All Star Futures Game and is having a great season.

Phillips is a fan favorite in Milwaukee and would be tough for fans to part with. But it’s hard to see his future in Milwaukee right now with Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich under contract for five seasons. His cannon arm and powerful bat make him an exciting prospect. But it’s his personality that will endear him to whatever fan base he plays for.

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The Milwaukee Brewers will continue negotiations with the Orioles. They will try to get them off of the idea that Corbin Burnes will be moved for Machado. But Baltimore is in need of pitching, making the addition of more arms in the deal a better trade for them.