The major league baseball team located in the Sonoran Desert managed to shake some somnolent, post-Christmas cobwebs off the “hot stove” free-agency trading season late Friday, with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ acquisition of the Baltimore Orioles’ outstanding ace, right-handed starter, Corbin Burnes, according to multiple sources.
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The deal, which has not been officially confirmed by either team front office, but it is expected to garner the player $210 million over six year, including a two-year guarantee, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The NY Post first reported the story.
Now this isn’t one of those record paydays, like the last two big signings, including with the mighty LA Dodgers.
But when you’re talking about a mid-market team like the N ational League West’s D-backs, luring a talented, fresh arm is an even bigger deal. MLB.com’s Diamondbacks beat writer, Steve Gilbert shared why this is the case–and something of a shock to the system:
Burnes was regarded as the top free agent pitcher on the market this offseason after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts for the Orioles in 2024. What makes the move such a surprise is that while Burnes was linked to a handful of teams this offseason, the Diamondbacks were not seen as one of the contenders to sign him.
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Arizona entered last season with a franchise-record payroll, spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $170 million. The club had some money come off the books when free agent Christian Walker and designated hitters Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk became free agents. Madison Bumgarner’s five-year, $85 million deal also expired at the end of the 2024 season.
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One theory that I’ve seen floating around the Snakes’ ever-speculating fans is that this is part one of a one-two punch by the franchise, and that the next move will see them trading an ace starter for a (young), solid closer. That’s a puzzle piece the team sorely lacked in its quest to return to the World Series last season. Maybe that’s where this is going. Stay tuned, as they say.
Oh and, make that 89 days and counting:
[Correction: In an earlier version of this article, we mistakenly called Burnes a lefty or left-handed pitcher. It has been corrected. We regret the error.]
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