Diamondbacks make massive play to keep up with Dodgers in signing Corbin Burnes

The Diamondbacks landed the best remaining free agent late Friday evening. 

Per ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, Arizona signed right-handed starting pitcher Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210M contract, which includes an opt-out clause after 2026.

The signing is a bold move by the Diamondbacks to reclaim NL bragging rights over the division-rival Dodgers.

Arizona won the NL pennant in 2023 following an 84-78 season. This past season, the Diamondbacks increased their wins by five games, going 89-73, but they missed the postseason by losing a tiebreaker with the Braves (89-73) and Mets (89-73).

Burnes gives the Diamondbacks a certified ace at the top of their rotation.

Last season, Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 earned run average (ERA), 181 strikeouts and 165 hits in 194.1 innings pitched.

As Passan noted, Arizona has a deep — if not particularly impressive — starting rotation.

“The Diamondbacks, already boasting a strong rotation that includes Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery,” wrote Passan, “will add to it the best player on the market.”

Per Baseball Reference, the Diamondbacks ranked 28th in starting pitcher wins above replacement in 2024, ahead of only the Guardians and Rockies.

Gallen is the best of Arizona’s returning starters. Last season, he went 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 28 starts (148 innings).

Kelly was 5-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 13 starts (73.2 innings). After a strong spring, Kelly struggled in nine starts following a DL stint, posting a 4.96 ERA and allowing 50 hits while striking out 42 batters in 49 innings.

Pfaadt went 11-10 with a 4.71 ERA in 32 starts (181.2 innings), allowing 183 hits and striking out 185 batters. Rodriguez and Montgomery posted ERAs above 5.00 and allowed more hits than strikeouts.

Burnes began his career in Milwaukee, playing his first six seasons with the Brewers. He primarily served as a reliever from 2018-19 before blossoming into one of the major’s best starting pitchers in 2020.

Burnes won the Cy Young Award in 2021 and finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 2024 with the Orioles while recording a career-high 15 wins.

Everyone is chasing the Dodgers — not only in the NL West but in the entire MLB. Los Angeles just won its second World Series in five seasons and could be even better in 2025.

2024 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch after spending last season as a designated hitter. The Dodgers also added left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell on a five-year, $182M contract in November.

The Diamondbacks couldn’t sit idly by and expect to keep pace with the Dodgers. Toppling Los Angeles’ juggernaut will be tough, but Burnes gives Arizona a chance.