Orioles star pitcher linked to Phillies after strong 2024 season

The Philadelphia Phillies have been largely carried by their starting rotation this season. At 81-56, they own the second-best record in Major League Baseball.

All signs point to the Phillies returning to the postseason and making a run towards the World Series. But if they don't, there are certainly ways to improve for 2025.

Bobo P. Goswami of Sportskeeda listed the Phils as a potential fit for Baltimore Orioles ace and former Cy Young Corbin Burnes.

"The Philadelphia Phillies are always looking to add high-quality free agents and will be even more determined if they cannot lay their hands on the World Series this year," Goswami wrote. "The Phillies arguably have the best starting rotation in Major League Baseball this season but adding Corbin Burnes could take it to a completely different level."

Philadelphia already has three top-level starters in its rotation. They managed to re-sign Aaron Nola prior to the 2024 season and also still have Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suarez.

But if they can add Burnes to the mix, they would become instant favorites to win it all in 2025. They would have four aces in their rotation, which would evoke memories of the early 2010s when they had Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels in the same rotation.

Last season, the Phillies followed up their 2022 World Series run with a trip to the NLCS, where they fell short against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They'll certainly be favored to make a deep run this year.

But 2025 could be a completely different story if they can get their hands on Burnes and stack their rotation even further. We'll see if the Phillies are in the running for him.

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