Orioles Star Corbin Burnes Shakes Up Offseason: Chooses Free Agency, While Boston’s Lucas Giolito Stays Put!
Corbin Burnes, a right-handed pitcher, had a strong first season with the Baltimore Orioles, finishing with a record of 15-9 and an impressive 2.92 ERA across 32 games. This year marked his debut with the Orioles after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers, where he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021. Alongside him, outfielder Anthony Santander had a productive season in 2024, hitting .235 while belting 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs.
In addition to Burnes and Santander, several other players opted for free agency, including right-hander Brooks Kriske, left-hander John Means, catcher James McCann, and outfielder Austin Slater. The Boston Red Sox announced that right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito has exercised his player option worth $19 million for the 2025 season. This decision was anticipated following Giolito’s March surgery on his pitching elbow, which kept him from playing during his first season with the Red Sox after signing a two-year, $38.5 million contract.
Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox decided not to exercise their 2025 option on infielder Yoan Moncada, allowing him to enter free agency. Moncada, who had previously signed a five-year, $70 million contract extension, struggled with injuries, limiting his appearances in recent seasons. In addition, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they would not be exercising their options on right-handed pitchers Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Keynan Middleton, further reshaping their roster for the upcoming year.
