Here is Orioles' most difficult decision they will face this winter

The Baltimore Orioles have been one of Major League Baseball's top teams in 2024. At 76-56, they sit just 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and lead the Wild Card race.

However, they may face some uncertainty this coming winter with their pitching staff, as a key member of their starting rotation is set to enter free agency.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed Corbin Burnes' free agency as the biggest decision the team will have to face in the offseason.

"The Orioles went into last offseason with a clear need to add a frontline starter, and they did just that when they swung a blockbuster deal to acquire Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers," Reuter wrote. "It's going to take a boatload of money to sign him, but there's not a better use of that money for an Orioles team whose title window is just opening and losing him would represent a setback with no equivalent option to replace him with on the open market."

The Orioles would be wise to try and keep Burnes around. There will be some options on the open market, but as Reuter pointed out, they will be few and far between.

That is why it is important for the Orioles to keep Burnes. If they lose him, their rotation will take a major hit, which will hurt them as they await the returns of Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish from Tommy John surgery.

The 29-year-old has a chance to win his second Cy Young Award this year. He's 12-6 in 26 starts with a 3.28 ERA, having logged 159 1/3 innings, punched out 146 batters, and posted a WHIP of 1.13.

The Orioles were lucky that the price to acquire Burnes wasn't too steep but losing him would certainly hurt. They'll need to keep him around if they want to remain one of baseball's top teams.

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