In your long time working with quarterbacks over the years, is there a difference when you get handed a top pick or an undrafted free agent?

I declared the Yankees to be the biggest winner of the off-season just last week when I wrote about them and the American League East competition in 2024. On Thursday night, the Baltimore Orioles declared, “Hold my beer,” and announced that they had traded two prospects for Corbin Burnes to the Milwaukee Brewers. Former Cy Young Award winner Burnes, who is expected to become a free agency at the end of the season after losing his arbitration battle with the Brewers in 2023, reportedly felt humiliated. So a trade for Burnes was not out of the ordinary, but Milwaukee had been adamantly unsure whether to trade him prior to the season, and the Yankees had been unable to work out a deal.

In light of the Burnes’ trade, the Yankees’ offseason suddenly dims a bit by comparison. Pre-trade, the Yankees’ starting rotation consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Jr., and Clarke Schmidt profiled positively against the very youthful rotation of the Orioles: Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez, and Tyler Wells. Now, however, the addition of Burnes propels this rotation to the top of the AL East.  The 2023 Orioles’ staff was already very good and was 11^th in rotation ERA, 13^th in FIP, and 16^th in strikeout rate. Bradish, Rodriguez, and Kremer ranked in the top 20 starters after the All-Star break, with Bradish (2.34) and Rodriguez (2.58) ranking in the top 5.

The question for every Yankee fan now is what will the Yankees do to counter such an explosive move by the 2023 division winners?  There are still many trade options that the Yankees could explore to bring somewhat comparable talent to the Bronx, for example, Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera of the Marlins or Dylan Cease of the White Sox. The Yankees could revisit their offer to free agent Blake Snell in the hopes that he might reconsider the offer to come to New York.

Let us pull the lens back and take a wider view of the offseason for the Yankees. The Juan Soto trade was the product of the most “disastrous” and “embarrassing” season in recent memory for the Bombers – and this according to Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman. Soto represents instant offense for a team that finished 24^th in the league. The team’s hubris in handling the Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency was astonishing this offseason. The Yankees had apparently been holding the number 18 for Yamamoto for a couple of years and their very competitive bid for him was played out in the public eye. When Yamamoto chose the Los Angeles Dodgers, it appeared to deflate the Yankee’s pre-established plans for 2024.

In an effort to pivot to the next best available pitcher this offseason, the Yankees made an offer to Snell (reportedly five years $150 million), who rebuffed it and countered with a demand for nine years, $240 million. The two sides were miles apart, however, and the Yankees quickly turned their attention to Marcus Stroman and signed him. Stroman, however, felt like the consolation prize to Yankee fans, especially given his contentious comments about Brian Cashman and the Yankee organization in previous years.

Yes, the Yankees also acquired Alex Verdugo through trade and signed a number of players to provide depth, especially in relief pitching. The Yankees’ offseason, which started with the signing of Soto and remarks from Brian Cashman about wanting to make the Bronx back into the “Mecca of baseball,” has turned into an unfinished business. Burnes’ signing by the Orioles vaults them to the top of the league, forcing the other teams in the division to hunt for talent well in advance of the season.

The view held by Yankees supporters, at least, is that there is still work to be done and that the glass is undoubtedly half empty. Social media users have urged the Yankees to acquire Snell in order to avenge the Burnes deal. To supporters, Snell is the Yankees’ best opportunity to improve the rotation and play the Orioles on an even playing field this offseason. The Yankees are also Snell’s sole offer this offseason. Regretfully, it appears that the Yankees retracted their offer, and there hasn’t been any word of any fresh proposals. Given how the Orioles signed Burnes this offseason, Yankee fans might as well get accustomed to the fact that the Orioles outwitted the Yankees at this point. Following the announcement of new ownership and the transaction, the league received notice stating

At least that’s the way Yankee fans see it, the glass is definitely half empty and there remains work to be done. Fans on social media have demanded that the Yankees counter the Burnes’ trade by obtaining Snell. To fans, the Yankees represent Snell’s only offer this offseason and Snell represents the Yankees’ best chance to upgrade the rotation and compete on level ground with the Orioles. Unfortunately, the Yankees reportedly withdrew their offer and there’s been no news of any other offers forthcoming.  At this point, Yankee fans might just as well get used to the idea that the Orioles outmaneuvered the Yankees this offseason by signing Burnes. Once new ownership was announced and the trade made, notice was served on the league that the Orioles knew what a talented and special group of young players they have and are banking on the fact that their success in 2023 can be propelled into the stratosphere in 2024.