Corbin Burnes Strikes $210 Million Deal with Arizona Diamondbacks
In a groundbreaking move in the MLB offseason, Corbin Burnes has inked a monumental deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, sealing a $210 million, six-year contract. This exclusive information was disclosed by a source familiar with the negotiations to The Associated Press late on Friday night.
The 30-year-old Burnes, who emerged as one of the most sought-after free-agent pitchers, showcased his prowess with a remarkable 15-9 record and a stellar 2.92 ERA while playing for Baltimore in the previous season. His exceptional performance led to a substantial salary of $15,637,500. Notably, Burnes transitioned to the Orioles after spending his initial six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.
While Burnes' lucrative contract doesn't come as a surprise given his exceptional track record, his choice of team has raised eyebrows. Arizona, typically positioned in the middle tier of big-league team payrolls, is set to witness its largest contract in franchise history with this deal.
Among the current active major league pitchers with contracts, Burnes' annual average salary of $35 million would rank fifth, trailing behind Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, Blake Snell, and Gerrit Cole. His agent, Scott Boras, has been instrumental in securing over $1.6 billion in contracts for his clients during this offseason.
Arizona's strategic spending aims to elevate the team's competitiveness, particularly against the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NL West division. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs in the previous season, the Diamondbacks have set their sights on strengthening their roster to make a significant impact.
The Diamondbacks' pitching lineup now boasts a formidable rotation featuring Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Brandon Pfaadt, positioning them as a force to be reckoned with in the league.
Burnes' exceptional performance was recognized with a fifth-place finish in the Cy Young Award voting during his debut season in the American League. Notably, he clinched the prestigious award in the National League in 2021 and has consistently delivered with a minimum of 28 starts in each of the past four seasons.
Despite a brief slump in August, Burnes showcased brilliance throughout the last season, providing Baltimore with a reliable ace in their injury-plagued rotation. His standout performance was pivotal in propelling the Orioles to the postseason as a wild card entry, although they succumbed to Kansas City in two consecutive games.
Setting a career high in 2024 with 22 quality starts, Burnes displayed a commendable strikeout rate of 8.38 per nine innings. While his strikeout rate dipped slightly, his walk rate of 2.22 marked a significant improvement since his Cy Young-winning campaign three years earlier.
