ATLANTA, GA – May 19, 2025 — The wait is over. After months of speculation, rumors, and growing anticipation from a restless fanbase, the Atlanta Braves have finally made the blockbuster move fans have been pleading for all offseason. In a stunning but calculated deal announced Monday morning, the Braves acquired All-Star starting pitcher Corbin Burnes from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade that could reshape the National League playoff picture.
The Braves have long been linked to Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young winner, but talks seemed to stall multiple times throughout the winter and early spring. Now, Atlanta gets their man — a bona fide ace to complement a rotation that has battled inconsistency and injury early in the 2025 season.
The Deal
The Braves acquired Burnes in exchange for a package headlined by top pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, outfielder Drake Baldwin, and a competitive balance draft pick. While steep, the price reflects Burnes’ elite status and the impact he’s expected to have on a team with World Series aspirations.
“This is the kind of move championship teams make,” said Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos. “We’ve admired Corbin for years. His track record, his competitiveness, his postseason experience — he checks every box.”
Burnes, 30, owns a 2.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP so far this season and is coming off back-to-back All-Star appearances. Known for his devastating cutter and pinpoint control, he now becomes the centerpiece of a rotation featuring Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and a soon-to-return Spencer Strider.
A Fanbase Rejoices
Braves fans have been vocal for months about their desire to add another front-line starter, especially after a disappointing NLDS exit last October. The buzz around Burnes intensified on social media throughout the offseason, with hashtags like #BringBurnesToTheBattery trending regularly on X (formerly Twitter).
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said lifelong Braves fan Malik Johnson outside Truist Park. “We’ve got the lineup. We’ve got the bullpen. Now we’ve got the ace.”
World Series or Bust?
With one of MLB’s deepest lineups and now a fortified rotation, the Braves are clearly signaling an all-in approach to 2025. Burnes will likely make his Braves debut this weekend against the rival Philadelphia Phillies in what’s shaping up to be a playoff-caliber series.
For a team already boasting stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies, the arrival of Burnes may be the final piece of the puzzle.
“We believe in this group,” said Anthopoulos. “And we believe Corbin helps us take the next step.”
The Braves are all-in. And fans, at long last, got what they asked for.