Diamondbacks sign Corbin Burnes to six-year deal

Diamondbacks sign Corbin Burnes to six-year deal

Woah! The stove is hot in the desert! The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed starting pitcher Corbin Burnes to a record-breaking six-year, $210 million deal, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman first reported Friday.

Breaking: Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks, $210M, 6 years. opt out after 2 years.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 28, 2024

Burnes was consistently linked to the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants throughout the offseason–in addition to the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. At no point was he linked to Arizona, who already boasted a formidable rotation spearheaded by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

It may not be the $245 million that he had reportedly been seeking. But Burnes’ new $210 million deal is the biggest in franchise history and the seventh-largest amongst pitchers in MLB History. Though according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, he turned down more money from the Giants and Blue Jays due to exorbitant taxes in both California and Canada.

Corbin Burnes was offered more by the Giants and Blue Jays but big tax difference in Arizona

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 28, 2024

The Diamondbacks’ previous biggest contract Zack Greinke‘s six-year, $207 million that he signed in 2015.

Burnes, 30, was the best free-agent pitcher left on the market. Last year, he pitched to a 2.92 ERA with a 3.55 FIP and 1.10 WHIP, striking out 181 batters (to 48 walks) in 194.1 innings pitched. He’s tossed at least 160.0 innings in each of the last four seasons, making at least 32 starts in three of them.

His strikeout rate has declined in each of the last four seasons, but he’s still generating plenty of whiffs, prevents hard contact and keeps runners off the basepaths.

Diamondbacks acquire Josh Naylor from Guardians

He’s an ace-level arm with five reliable pitches: A cutter, curveball, slider, changeup and sinker. That will be a very difficult division to pitch in, but now the Diamondbacks’ top of the rotation matches up with anyone in the NL–even if the offense isn’t quite there with no Christian Walker.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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