A year ago, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles, one season before he became a free agent.

The goal of the deal was to secure valuable assets before potentially losing him without compensation. GM Matt Arnold succeeded in this objective, acquiring MLB contributors DL Hall and Joey Ortiz, as well as the 34th overall pick (Competitive Balance Round-A selection) in the 2024 MLB Draft.

However, after Burnes signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Orioles ultimately end up gaining a slight edge over the Brewers in next years draft.

Both the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles have received compensation picks this off-season

This off-season, the Brewers extended a qualifying offer to Willy Adames and the Orioles to Corbin Burnes plus Anthony Santander. Adames and Burnes ended up signing elsewhere and for more than $50 million. Due to this, team revenue, and market size, both teams will receive compensation picks after the first round of next year’s draft and before the Competitive Balance Round-A.

Right now, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Orioles, and Brewers are the only three teams receiving compensation picks due to losing players in free agency. Christian Walker signing with the Houston Astros is how the Diamondbacks acquired this extra high draft pick.

The Baltimore Orioles will select ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2025 MLB Draft

The order in which each these teams will select is determined in accordance with the previous season’s standings. This means that Arizona will be awarded the highest compensation draft pick and Milwaukee the last.

Currently, this is netting the Diamondbacks the 29th overall pick, Orioles 30th, and the Brewers the 31st.

Baltimore could additionally secure another compensation pick pending the results of Anthony Santander’s free agency. This means that the O’s could have picks at 30 and 31, potentially pushing Milwaukee back to 32.

While it does sting a bit that the Orioles, who received Corbin Burnes via trade from the Brewers, now get to draft ahead of Milwaukee next year, it is also worth noting that the Brew Crew managed to finish with a better record than the O’s last year and that the players that they received in the exchange are expected to have pivotal roles once again next year.